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 The number of obese or overweight children has risen by 10 million
worldwide since 1990 and there are now more overweight and obese
children in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income
countries, the WHO said.
In developing countries, the number of overweight children more than
doubled to 15.5 million in 2014 from 7.5 million in 1990, driven by
globalization and urbanization, a report by the WHO Commission on
Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO) said.
"Overweight and obesity impact on a child's quality of life, as they
face a wide range of barriers, including physical, psychological and
health consequences," Sania Nishtar, ECHO co-chair, said in a
statement.
"We know that obesity can impact on educational attainment too and
this, combined with the likelihood that they will remain obese into
adulthood, poses major health and economic consequences for them,
their families and society as a whole."
The marketing of unhealthy food and drinks was the major factor in
the increase in numbers of overweight and obese children,
particularly in the developing world, the WHO said.
Almost half of overweight and obese children under five live in Asia
and 25 percent in Africa, where the number of overweight children
almost doubled to 10.3 million in 2014 from 5.4 million in 1990, the
WHO said.
It said Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Botswana had the
highest percentage of overweight children among African countries.
Children who don't have access to enough nutritious food in early
childhood are at an particularly high risk of becoming obese when
their food intake and activity levels change, the WHO said.
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And children of migrants and indigenous people were also at a higher
risk of becoming obese due to rapid cultural changes and limited
access to healthcare.
The report said that obesity epidemic had the potential to reverse
many health gains across the globe and called on governments to
address what it called a major health challenge.
"WHO needs to work with governments to implement a wide range of
measures that address the environmental causes of obesity and
overweight, and help give children the healthy start to life they
deserve," said Peter Gluckman, ECHO co-chair.
Among its recommendations, the WHO said governments should promote
healthy foods, physical activity and healthy school environments.
(Reporting by Magdalena Mis; Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit
Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters,
that covers humanitarian news, women’s rights, corruption and
climate change. Visit news.trust.org)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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