Overcoming The Obesity Epidemic
Author: Maryam Ayres
Time for reading: ~0
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
The obesity epidemic has become a major societal problem in both industrialized and developed countries. Observations show that obesity became permanent even before adolescence.
The obesity epidemic has become a major societal problem in both industrialized and developed countries. Observations show that obesity became permanent even before adolescence. The fact that we face this problem even before puberty implies early detection of children at risk and offering individual prevention programs in the school itself together with specialists. Unfortunately, such measures prove to be extremely unprofitable.
PLoS ONE magazine, in its June 20 issue, cites a Swedish study offering a protocol that found about 30% of children who became obese before the age of five based solely on weight and height data. The protocol selects 4- and 5-year-old boys with a body mass index (BMI) above the international average and girls of the same age with a BMI over 20 to participate in weight reduction programs.
This method does not require any special equipment and can be applied in any childcare facility where growth and development before puberty are monitored regularly. Such an approach would limit significant public financial losses and reduce the suffering of patients and their families.
Endocrinologists are working to make these screening programs even more accurate and to cover more problem children. Regular monitoring of heredity and eating habits is also being considered.