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UAE parents asked to teach children about obesity

Dubai - A report commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier this year predicts that by 2025 the number of overweight children aged between five and 19 will reach 448,736 in the UAE.

An unhealthy and overweight child can turn into an obese adult with a host of health issues. On World Anti-Obesity Day marked each year on November 26, health professionals have asked parents to play a proactive role to stop the potential long term risk to children's health from obesity in the UAE.
The experts have asked parents in the UAE to address the rising epidemic of childhood obesity and protect their children from fatal diseases in the future.
A report commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier this year predicts that by 2025 the number of overweight children aged between five and 19 will reach 448,736 in the UAE.
"Childhood obesity is a very serious global problem with 41 million of children under the age of five considered overweight. In the UAE, the prevalence of obesity among school children is much higher than average global standards," according to Dr Uday Shankar, specialist general surgeon, Zulekha Hospital Dubai.
Quoting a study published by Annals of Human Biology in 2005 that in comparison to international standards, Dr Uday said that the incidence of obesity among school children from the UAE was 2.3 times greater among boys aged 14 and 3.6 times higher amid youngsters aged 18.
"Currently, most sources indicate that 20 per cent of children between five and 10 are either overweight or obese with this number doubled among teenagers aged 11-18."
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a standard measure used to determine whether an individual is overweight or obese, but interpretation of the BMI results among children is more complex than among adults.
"Children's body composition changes as they age and it's different between boys and girls. For that reason, BMI levels among children and teenagers need to be assessed in relation to other children of the same age and sex."
Dr Lee Hudson, Consultant Paediatrician from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) at the London-based hospital, which treats children from the region, advised parents to consider this increasing issue to help protect them from the risks associated with obesity in the future.
Dr Hudson, who refers to obesity as an emerging public health problem epidemic in the Middle East, highlights the importance for parents to be aware of their child's weight as obesity can impact their health both now and in the future.
"The definition of overweight means that a child's body weight (in particular the amount of body fat) is higher than most children's in a healthy population and greater than would be advised. Obesity is when that level of being overweight is more severe. Healthy lifestyles should be promoted to all children. Issues with weight tend to build up slowly over time and many families do not notice until problems are established," he said.
According to Dr Hudson, being obese or overweight is also linked to mental health problems in some children. It is a burden on the individual, family and society in many ways. "The best treatment for obesity is prevention, and educating the family and children about healthy ways of living, including eating well and exercising regularly, is vital. Losing weight is hard, and the treatment for being overweight is usually the same as the way to prevent it: eating well and exercising regularly."
According to Dr Uday, bariatric surgeries are the last option that should be explored for children. "It is commonly offered as a very effective means of reducing weight with 80 per cent of excess weight loss experience within 9-12 months," he said.
However, when obesity is compounded with medical problem like diabetes, hypertension, or inability to perform daily activities and joint problems, surgery might be the most appropriate treatment aimed not only at reducing weight, but alleviating medical conditions associated with obesity.
- asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com