Broader Public Health Strategies Required To Curb Obesity In Children, Study

broader public health strategies obesity children food habits nutrition physical activities policy

By Staff Reporter , Parent Herald Jan 21, 08:45 am

Obesity has spiked in children in recent years with more kids adopting poor food habits, which include minimal servings of fruits and diet. A recent study reveals that the problem needs to be addressed with broader health strategies.

The researchers at Manchester Urban Collaboration of Health (MUCH) under University of Manchester have tried to elaborate on the importance of broader public health strategies to curb the increasing trend of obesity in children.

"We conducted a systematic review of literature of interventions to increase fruit and/or vegetable consumption in overweight or obese children," said Dr Paula Whittaker, lecturer on public health at University of Manchester, in a press release. We found narrow interventions focusing on single aspects of behaviour are unlikely to achieve long-term change."

The researchers based their findings on data collected from recent surveys on the dietary patterns of children and the measures adopted to bring down obesity in them. The latest figures show that in the U.K. 31 percent of boys and 28 percent of girls aged between two and 15 are obese.

According to the researchers, apart from parental intervention others measures like nutritional education, encouraging physical activities, government campaigns educating about health hazards faced due to obesity should be adopted.

"Public health interventions will help the global, national and local policy makers to make the right decisions, for evidence-based policy are vital," said Dr Aparna Verma, the director of MUCH, reports newsmediaclnet.. "Narrowing inequalities and inequities by helping children get the best start in life with policies that work is our best way of tackling the global epidemic in obesity."

In this respect, nutritional education is one of the most recommended measures that can help children to form healthier eating habits to be continued in teens. Healthier food habits include minimal employment of sweetened beverages and processed food.