Poorer health of children in Germany

Survey among doctors: The health of children in Germany has worsened

06/26/2013

Health problems have increased in children in recent years. This emerges from a survey among doctors. Many children have too little exercise and therefore suffer from obesity or motor problems. Often, parents who give a bad role model are to blame.

Overweight, back pain, movement disorders
According to paediatricians, the health of children in Germany has deteriorated over the past decade. Unhealthy diet, too little exercise and too much time in front of computer and TV are the reasons for the health problems such as obesity, back pain or movement disorders. These were the results of a survey by the Forsa Institute commissioned by DAK-Gesundheit, which was carried out among 100 children and adolescents nationwide on the health of children. „Almost all physicians surveyed (94 percent) note an increase in overweight“, so the DAK. „An increase in motor deficits among minors see 80 percent of respondents.“ In addition, more than half of the doctors noted that back pain and postural damage have increased.

Half of the doctors believe in worsening
The survey found that there was an accumulation of different health problems in different age groups. For example, disorders of the musculoskeletal system often affect three- to five-year-olds; six- to eight-year-olds often suffer from weight problems, and eleven to fourteen-year-olds often suffer from back pain or posture problems. With 51 percent of physicians surveyed, almost half believe that the general health of children in Germany has deteriorated over the past decade. 39 percent of physicians believe that he has improved.

Role model of the parents
Respondents saw several causes that were dangerous to children's health. For example, 96 percent cited lack of exercise as a problem, 92 percent of physicians criticized unhealthy diets, and 89 percent recognized that parents did not have a positive role model. A joint study by the Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) Obesity Diseases, the pediatric network CrescNet and Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the University Hospital Leipzig also concluded that the number of overweight children has risen steadily and that this is often familial , Many parents are apparently lacking awareness of their children's weight problems. Dr. Susann Blüher, the head of the cooperation project, said that in many families „first an awareness of the negative consequences of being overweight can be created.“ According to Dr. More recently, such programs are more important than ever, as around 80 percent of overweight children remain fat as adults. In addition, due to the overweight diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular complaints occur more frequently in children and adolescents, explained the expert.

Physical education and movement of parents often poor
Of the physicians interviewed in the DAK survey, 49 percent categorized too little or bad physical education at schools as a risk factor. The fund announced that the first signs of lack of exercise in the regular child care, the so-called U-investigations, could be found. Parents often have a problem with objectively assessing whether their child moves sufficiently. „Most of the own movement behavior also characterizes the urge for activity in the offspring“, Uwe Dresel from DAK-Gesundheit. „Children with active and health-conscious parents often have more access to sports and exercise.“ (Ad)

Image: Hannelore Louis