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[COMMENTARY] How we could win the fight against childhood obesity
With more frequent sedentary activities, such as playing computer games or watching TV, young people, in particular children, are at an increased risk of health problems linked to being overweight and obesity.
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Sweetened condensed milk is able to increase the risk of diabetes, obesity and cavity in children. (Shutterstock/File)
T
he coronavirus pandemic has brought about drastic changes in people’s lifestyles. Limitations imposed during COVID-19 have led us to do less physical activity, a key factor that can increase the risk of becoming overweight.
With more frequent sedentary activities, such as playing computer games or watching TV, young people, in particular children, are at an increased risk of health problems linked to being overweight and obesity.
Obesity undermines not only children’s physical health, but also their school performance, self-confidence and even mental health. Concerning the huge personal costs borne by children living with obesity, the clock is ticking for countries, including Indonesia, to initiate more concerted efforts to create an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle.
Obesity is currently one of top risk factors of the global burden of diseases. It has been widely understood that obesity starts in very early life. Obesity has become even more anticipated in this decade because, according to World Health Organization data, as of 2019, about 38 million children aged under 5 years old were overweight.
Obesity has also risen to an alarming level, in which the number of overweight children and adolescents aged 5 to 14 years reached 340 million in 2019. By 2022, countries will have more obese children than underweight children, the WHO predicts.
The pandemic has exacerbated the situation. Countries around the world are expecting not only more children with wasting conditions but also children being exposed to unhealthy diets, such as ultra-processed food and junk food, because of increasing screen time. The rising prevalence of obesity will put a heavier burden on the global public health system that has been overwhelmed by the COVID-19 crisis.
In recent years, some countries actually managed to curb obesity, said Francesco Branco, WHO director of nutrition for health and development, during a Nov. 20 webinar jointly held by UNICEF and WHO to celebrate World Children’s Day 2020. “But, by and large, we are very far from reaching the global target of zero growth rate of childhood overweight by 2025 and a half reduction in the number of obese children by 2030, as set by the World Health Assembly,” he said.
