Less fat children but more extremely fat children

Study: Number of fat children is falling

30/04/2014

According to the results of a new study, "the rapid increase in the number of fat children in Germany and other industrialized countries seems to have stopped". The researchers therefore want to give "no all-clear". The number of children with extreme overweight continues to rise.

Rapid increase in the number of fat children seems stopped
It seems as if the rapid increase in the number of fat children in Germany and other industrialized countries has been stopped. A study by researchers at the University of Ulm has shown that after the strong growth since the 1980s, there has been a slowdown or even a decline in the numbers. First and foremost, this affects children with relatively little overweight. However, the scientists warned that the number of extremely fat children continues to rise. The study appeared in the journal „BioMed Central Medicine“.

In girls more pronounced than in boys
For the study, the researchers have analyzed individual studies from different industrialized countries. „The clarity of the trend for Germany and many comparable countries such as Switzerland, France, the USA or Australia surprised us“, so Professor Martin Wabitsch, one of the authors of the study. Wabitsch, who is working on obesity research, has been analyzing for years with his colleague Dr. Anja Moss's data from school entrance examinations, with more than half a million children a year, drew attention to the astonishing trend reversal that has been increasingly evident since the year 2000. „The positive development is more pronounced among girls than boys, and more pronounced in pre-school than in schoolchildren“, so Dr. Moss. The team around PD Dr. Katrin Kromeyer-Hauschild from the Institute of Human Genetics at the University Hospital Jena.

Better nutrition and exercise options
The reasons for the trend reversal, among other things, the scientists have made a better diet and more exercise. „Initial study results suggest that education, better nutritional and exercise offers actually work. This is good news for anyone looking for healthier food in KiTas and schools, more physical education classes, green spaces and bike paths - because it pays off“, so Professor Wabitsch. Dr. Moss added: „In fact, the consumption of sugary drinks and television use in many industrialized countries is apparently declining slightly, while the consumption of fruit and vegetables and the duration of active leisure activities are rising.“

Number of children with extreme overweight continues to rise
However, the researchers can not give the all-clear. Wabitsch explained: „The continued weight gain of our children seems to have stopped, but we have already reached a terrifying level.“ Children today are still about three times as likely to be overweight compared to the 1980s and have twice as much fat mass. In addition, the number of children with extreme overweight continues to increase. Professor Wabitsch concludes: „We need to step up our efforts so that the obvious potential benefits of better nutrition and more exercise someday lead to a real decline in obesity.“

Preserve children from large fatteners
As Professor Wabitsch thinks, this should include courage: „Anyone who wants to protect children from the big fatteners, such as sugary drinks and finished products, along with the associated advertising, not only has to appeal to their own responsibility, but must also take appropriate measures to protect children.“ But that could be a mammoth task. As the German Society for Paediatrics and Youth Medicine (DGKJ) 2011 discussed, children see on average between 20,000 and 40,000 commercials per year while watching television. The evaluation of the DGKJ revealed at that time that about half of all advertising films related to sugary sodas, sweets and savory biscuits. (Sb)