Overweight and obesity are the most serious threats to children's health in Spain, country with one of the highest rates of child overweight in Europe. The data of the study of the Thao Foundation, carried out in the 2010-2011 academic year, shows “the alarming situation” of obesity and overweight already at very early ages: from 3 to 5 years.
According to Henri García (president of the Foundation) "the problem of obesity generates huge social and economic costs, both direct and indirect, which would be reduced considerably if more were invested in prevention programs."
In Peques and Más we have already spoken several times about this problem, that is, it is not new for us. Despite this, we cannot stop insisting on the importance of taking care of the family's diet and physical exercise, because their health will depend on it.
And it is that excess weight is the main risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, which are currently the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Although we have also read here that it is a factor in the appearance of allergic type asthma, or that it accelerates the process of puberty.
The study carried out by Thao is the most comprehensive conducted so far in Spain on childhood obesity, with a sample of 38,008 children from different Spanish municipalities, between 3 and 12 years. The results indicate that 3 out of 10 children (30%) suffer from excess weight (overweight and obesity). Of these, 8.3% are obese and 21.7% are overweight.
“The trend that since 2008 pointed the studies of the Thao Foundation in the direction that excess weight increases as the child's age increases could be changing,” says Dr. Rafael Casas, scientific director of the Program Thao-Children's Health. "There are several hypotheses that can respond to these results"
This statement is based on the fact that there seems to be a higher prevalence of obesity among young children as they grow older.
In five years we have achieved that childhood obesity is seen as a problem that must be addressed from public institutions, to the family. We have managed to raise awareness among fathers and mothers in record time that excess weight is a threat to the future health of their children
The Thao Foundation has also presented the results of the First Thao Study of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among the child population. The study was carried out based on a survey on eating habits with a sample of 1,713 children aged 8 to 13, from different Spanish municipalities. The results grant a medium level to follow up on the recommendations of the Mediterranean Diet (a note of 6.70 out of 12).
However, there is a long way to go in promoting good habits among children in aspects such as breakfast and consumption of vegetables and fruits.
As explained by Santi Gómez, head of Evaluation and Research at the Thao Foundation, “that only 66% of children eat breakfast before leaving home is too low. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, essential to face the day with physical and psychic strength ”.
Among the good habits, the widespread use of olive oil in the homes of the children interviewed, 95.3; dairy consumption and fish intake regularly 2 to 3 times per week in more than 75 of the children.
The Foundation is not only an observatory of childhood obesity, but also acts. We are carrying out actions to prevent obesity for young children, from 0 to 3 years, in response to overweight between 3 and 5 years
We like to be positive, so we want to talk more in depth about the Thao Children's Health Program, which will be developed in five pilot municipalities since 2007. It will be very soon.
