Bad health of children in Germany

Bad health of children in Germany

05/07/2011

The health of children has worsened significantly in Germany over the past ten years, according to the results of a study commissioned by the German Employees' Health Insurance Fund (DAK) conducted by the Forsa Institute. In April, the market, opinion and social research institute surveyed 100 paediatricians in Germany on the development of the health status of adolescents.

In the study, paediatricians noted a significant deterioration in the health of girls and boys over the past decade. Especially among elementary schoolchildren between the ages of six and eight, health problems such as obesity, obesity or mental disorders have increased significantly, reported Christina Sewekow of the DAK when presenting the study results in Hamburg. The expert of the DAK evaluated the statements of paediatricians as „alarming“ and stressed that „the health education of our children in Germany get a stronger weight“ must.

Paediatricians see deterioration in their health
More than 50 percent of pediatricians surveyed said that over the last decade, adolescent health has tended to worsen. Fifty-one percent of paediatricians said that the health status of children has been on the worsening side since 2000, with four percent saying that they have deteriorated significantly. When asked the mental health problems and behavioral problems „Almost all of the pediatricians surveyed found that these had increased with 97 percent“, explained the DAK spokeswoman. According to Christina Sewekow, 55 percent of the physicians surveyed even saw one in terms of mental health problems and behavioral problems over the past ten years „strengthen“ Rise. As the cause of the growing complaints of adolescents, the paediatricians called the interaction of unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and the pastime with television or computer and consoles. According to the doctors, this unhealthy way of life is the greatest health threat for the children. In addition, the paediatricians also criticized the parents' lack of role model function and frequently referred to them as a risk factor for the adolescent's health in the context of the DAK study. In addition, 61 percent of physicians stated that there were too few or insufficient physical education classes in schools.

Health problems due to overweight already at primary school age
Above all, the primary school students between the ages of six and eight years suffer according to the assessments of the physicians according to health problems due to obesity. So set „95 percent of pediatricians here notice an increase“, said the DAK spokeswoman Christina Sewekow. In addition, according to the pediatricians, the motor deficit but also the speech and hearing problems have also increased significantly, so the result of the current DAK study. These diagnoses are the most common among the three- to five-year-olds, according to Sewekow. For the spokeswoman of the DAK, the assessments of the doctors are alarming, since often in childhood, the foundation for significant health problems later in life is laid. Therefore, the concept of early detection should urgently be reviewed and, if necessary, revised, emphasized Christina Sewekow. However, the expansion of the check-ups should not be in the foreground, but focus on the study of individual problems such as obesity, the DAK spokeswoman demanded. In order to ensure the long-term success of the corresponding programs, be it „important to involve parents and school more“, said Sewekov.

Dietary habits as a risk factor for health
Several times in the past, infant nutrition has been criticized as a potential risk factor for adolescent health. Only in May of this year, the Research Institute for Child Nutrition (FKE) had presented a study, according to which many infants are not only unhealthy nourished but also record on average significantly less liquid per day. This would threaten the long-term significant adverse effects on health, said the scientists of the FKE. On the one hand, the small children eat too much sweets, meat and sausage, on the other hand, they clearly drink too little with 0.4 liters per day, the nutrition experts reported. Above all, the candy consumption of on average 50 grams per day (recommended maximum 30 grams) prepared the nutritionists concern. The expert of the FKE, nutritionist dr. oec. troph. Annett Hilbig, classified the results of the study as a particularly questionable, since especially in toddlers, the nutritional habits emerge and so often in early childhood, the foundation for a lifelong diet is set wrong. (Fp)

Read also about child health:
Baths in the mud protect children from allergies
Study: Finished eating makes kids stupid
Advertising on TV makes children overweight
Study: Children in Germany eat unhealthy

Picture credits: Stephanie Hofschlaeger