U.K. Children Prone to Heart Diseases Due to Obesity, Warn Experts

A latest report by British Heart Foundation reveals that obesity makes children vulnerable to heart diseases in the future.

The report by BHF and Oxford University said that U.K. children do not follow healthy diets and refrain from exercising, which leads to serious health issues in later life. Worst offenders are teenagers, who generally skip breakfast and watch too much television.

 Nearly three-quarters of children aged 13 (68 percent of girls and 74 percent of boys) watch television for minimum two hours every day compared to 60 percent girls and 64 percent boys aged 11.

Overall, around a quarter of children aged two to 15 spend at least six hours every weekend day being inactive.

Nearly 30 percent of children and youngsters suffer from obesity in the country that makes them prone to diseases such as diabetes and heart ailment. The study found that around two in five 13-year-olds, that comprises 39 percent of girls and 43 percent of boys, consume a soft drink daily. 32 percent of 11-year-old girls and 38 percent of boys of same age have soft drinks along with 39 percent for 15-year-old girls and 43 percent for 15-year-old boys.

The report also stated that nearly half, i.e. 47 percent of boys and more than a third, that means 36 percent of girls aged 13 skip breakfast, so do 29 percent of 11-year-old girls and 26 percent of 11-year-old boys.

But the number of older teenagers is even higher with 57 percent of girls and 38 percent of boys skipping breakfast. Around 80 percent of children between the ages of five and 15 do not eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and the figure goes up to 83 percent among 15-year-olds.

The recommended one hour of exercises is also not met by most of the 11-15 year olds.

"These figures are a warning that many of our children are in grave danger of developing coronary heart disease in the future if they continue to live the same lifestyle. This is simply unacceptable," said Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the BHF.