Most children not active enough

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 7, 14 July 1987, Page 16

Most children not active enough

A warning has corae from nutrition experts that many New Zealand children are not eating properly. Reports from overseas regarding the high proportion of overweight children in some countries has prompted concern from both the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation and Weight Watchers that child obesity here in New Zealand is a major problem. New Zealand Nutrition Foundation deputy chairman, Professor Cliff Tas-man-Jones, says that too many New Zealand children are becoming obese through eating a disproportionate amount of

sugary, sweet and fatty foods and through inactivity. Weight Watchers adds, "Poor food habits, lack of nutrition education, snacking on empty kilojoules, irregular eating patterns, too little of some foods and too much of others are some reasons why a high percentage of children in New Zealand are not getting the nourishment they need and are most likely adding extra kilos in the process." Professor Tasman-Jones says that although any food in moderation is not harmful, the overeating especially of sugary foods is a "major concem in terms of child obesity." He explains that because sugary foods are absorbed more rapidly into the system than other bulkier foods such as fruit, the body becomes hungry more quickly after eating them. So sugary foods make a person eat more in a shorter period of time without gaining necessary nutrients. Professor Tasman-Jones says it is important that New Zealand children are educated into correct eating habits. He recommends specialists in diet management such as Weight Watchers to anyone concerned about an overweight child. "The child most likely to be a candidate for obesity tends to be less active and may perhaps be more introverted than his or her peers," he says, "but child obesity in this country is not confined to any social strata or group."

Professor Tasman-Jones stresses "it must also be realised ihat weighi gain in puberty, known av puppy fat', is common, and should not cause undue worry for parents of teenagers. Child obesity is a much more long-term, serious problem." Studies from both within New Zealand and overseas indicate that obesity in a child not only affects the child' s general health but also their emotional well-being. There are indications that the overweight child is more prone to accidents, is often ostracised by peers and may be unconsciously discriminated against by teachers. Research also shows that overweight children share personality traits remarkably similar to those of minority group children who have been "victims of tense prejudice". Professor Tasman-Jones outlines other problems. "The short-term effects of child obesity include, besides the physical, a number of psychological effects especially for females. "They may become disgusted and dissatisfied with their weight and this can lead to psychological problems such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia." Long-term physical effects of obesity can include a susceptibility to diseases of the heart, hypertension, diabetes and post-operative complications. The Nutrition Foundation, he says, stresses the importance of educating the New Zealand child into eating healthier foods.

They also stress the importance of "using qualified, experienced organisation such as Weight Watchers to learn good eating habits that will take a child into a healthy adulthood."