Rates of increase in childhood obesity seem to be slowing
November 3, 2009
New data seems to suggest that previous predictions on the rate at which childhood obesity was increasing may have been too pessimistic. Analysis of the data has revealed that the rate of increase of obesity in Britain’s young people has started to slow quite significantly. Previous predictions said that by 2020 42 percent of boys between the ages of 2 and 11 years of age would be obese or overweight. This prediction has now been downgraded to 30 percent. For girls in the same age group the figures have dropped from 48 percent to 27 percent.
One of the researchers examining the new statistics, Klim McPherson says that the new figures are encouraging and show that the rate of increase is slowing. However there is no room for complacency and although the new figures are positive that rate of obesity in the U.K. was still unacceptably high. The researchers are unable to give any firm reasons as to why rates of increase are slowing but suggested that media coverage and health awareness campaigns may be playing their part.
Medical director of Weight Concern, Dr. Ian Campbell warned against complacency. He said that the rate of increase in childhood obesity may well be slowing but rates of obesity were still on the increase.
Gillian Merron, the minister for public health agreed with this stance saying that levels of obesity were still too high and in order to permanently reduce rates of obesity everyone would have to continue making a concerted effort.
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