The spread of the childhood obesity epidemic

• Published in: Canadian Medical Association journal (CMAJ) Vol. 163; no. 11; pp. 1461 - 1462
• Main Author: Andersen, R E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada CMA Impact, Inc 28-11-2000
• Subjects: Canada - epidemiology; Child; Children & youth; Feeding Behavior; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Life Style; Male; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Objectives; Physician's Role; Prevalence; Public health; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0820-3946; 1488-2329

There is an old Chinese proverb that states "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." It is time for physicians and health care professionals to embark on the journey to reduce levels of obesity in children and adolescents. In this issue (page 1429) Mark Tremblay and Douglas Willms report that Canadian children are becoming progressively more overweight.' Alarmingly, they report that from 1981 to 1996 the prevalence of overweight increased by 92% in boys and by 57% in girls. Moreover, during that same time frame, the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in both boys and girls. These data mirror recent reports from the United States,2,3 Europe,4 China5 and several developing countries.6 In the United States alone the estimated annual number of deaths attributable to obesity is about 280 000.7 A major concern regarding childhood obesity is that obese children tend to become obese adults, facing an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic problems and many other chronic diseases.8 Dietz9 has also cautioned that obese children are much more likely to face both health and psychological challenges related to their obesity during childhood and adolescence than their leaner counterparts. Increasingly, pediatricians are seeing hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes in their obese patients. Clearly, the dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity in Canadian children represents a serious threat to public health. The etiology of obesity represents a complex interaction of genetics, diet, metabolism and physical activity levels. Physicians also need to address and discuss weight loss strategies with both obese children and their families. Community leaders, school boards and the entire health care community also need to engage actively in strategies to prevent obesity in children and adolescents. By encouraging all children to consume healthier diets and to remain physically active, we can take the first step in our journey to reduce levels of childhood obesity.