There has been an awful lot of discussion about the growing childhood obesity problem, but very little action so far. Now, government advisors have suggested a new and potentially effective strategy for solving the issue.
According to advisors from Policy Exchange, a government think-tank, childhood obesity could be tackled by introducing annual body mass index (BMI) assessments for children aged four to 11.
BMI is used to measure whether or not you are at a healthy weight for your height. It is calculated by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in metres), then dividing that figure once again by the height. You are deemed to be ‘overweight’ if you have a BMI of 25 or more, and ‘underweight’ if you have a BMI of 18.5 or lower.
In the new strategy suggested this week, advisors believe that the British Government needs to take a new angle in its approach to tackling childhood obesity – focusing on the child’s overall health and well-being, and not just their weight.
Believing that sending letters of concern home to parents is essentially “fat-shaming” children, Policy Exchange is of the opinion that mums and dads need more education on the link between sleep, exercise and healthy eating as part of a child’s overall health.
Share if you think this approach is a positive step forward.
