Child obesity: 'Sadly many parents are bad role models'

Published on Wednesday 17 December 2008 08:54

AT a time when the bill to tackle obesity is costing NHS Lothian in excess of £22 million a year it is not surprising that one in five children who start school is classed as overweight, and one in ten as obese.

That so many should find themselves in such an unhealthy condition so early in life should be of great concern. But in an era when junk food has never been more plentiful and computer games and multi-channel television dominate out-of-school entertainment, is it that surprising? To make matters worse there is the cotton wool kids factor, where children are discouraged from running about free outside for fear that some mishap will befall them.

While schools have tried to play their part by encouraging healthy eating, a lack of emphasis on PE and organised sports in some areas is adding to the problem. And although 30 breakfast clubs have so far been started in city schools to try to ensure as many start the day off with a nourishing meal, plans to open another 90 appear to have stalled for the moment through a lack of sponsors.

Much emphasis has been placed on improving school meals. But if children are not encouraged at home to plump for healthier options like salad instead of pizza and pies then many will continue to make their way down to the nearest fast food shop at lunchtime.

Local authority cutbacks have not helped by limiting access to exercise for many and this year organised activities for children during the summer and Easter holidays were axed by the city council. Ironically NHS Lothian now feels obliged to pay for personal fitness trainers for 400 children who are considered to be the most obese.

The solution lies in changing not just eating habits but culture. As with smoking and alcohol misuse, earlier intervention is required and record government investment of 56m over the next three years to encourage children to eat healthily will hopefully be money well spent as the NHS currently spends 171m a year to treat those that have become overweight. The couch potato culture is only storing up problems for the health service in future years, increasing the risk of patients developing heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure in adulthood.

Parents have a pivotal role in changing attitudes, but sadly many are poor role models, with 150,000 adults in the Lothians classed as clinically obese.

It's time that more of them got up off the sofa and dragged their kids out with them to participate in some physical activity for their own sake, as well as their children's.