The Growing Epidemic of Childhood Obesity: The Role of the Class Teacher - Essay Example

means that an increasing number of the world’s child population are priming themselves for the diseases that have been inextricably linked to obesity, including arteriosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, asthma and arthritis17. In the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, the blame was placed on the excessive consumption of fat, sugar and salt, which is the result of the advent of an “obesogenic” environment, a condition that encourages the consumption of more energy food than is necessary20.

Only a successful treatment of obesity in childhood may prevent severe diseases in later years. Among the countries that has recognized obesity as a growing public health problem is UK, where the 2002 Health Survey declared that over half of the country’s population was overweight or obese1. The National Office of Statistics (NOS) said obesity was affecting children more than adults, such that 22 percent of all boys and 28 percent of all girls in the 2-15 age bracket were either overweight or obese.

Other independent studies16 noted that about 1 million of all obese persons in UK were less than 16 years old, indicating a steady and rapid yearly increase in the prevalence rate for child obesity in the country. The government projection is that by 2010, 1 out of every 4 adults will be obese. This translates to a cost of some £3.6 billion for the National Health Service and the economy as a whole through direct and indirect costs. UK presents an interesting case for a country-specific study because it holds the distinction of being the country where the first obesity-related case of type-2 diabetes was reported12.

This is an indication that obesity has become a runaway problem in UK, which is supported by recent public health bulletins expressing due alarm over the situation. An inquiry of the House of Commons health committee in 2003 established strong links of obesity with diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancer, arthritis and social and