Yesterday we reported on the alarming results of a World Health Organisation study which predicted that a third of women in the UK will be obese by 2030; now, another study has shed light on the state of our little ones’ health.

 

According to research published today, Britain has the second-highest proportion of overweight children aged five-and-under in Europe.

 

The study, which was presented to the European Congress on Obesity this week, found that nearly a quarter (23.1%) of British children aged five years and under are overweight or obese.

 

Ireland showed a similar trend, topping the study with the highest proportion (27.5%) of overweight or obese children aged five and under; while it was Kazakhstan, with 1%, which had the lowest percentage of overweight or obese children.

 

As for the specific factors behind the surge in obesity in young children, the study authors said the breastfeeding may play a role in lower obesity rates. For overweight and obese children, the authors wrote that keeping children active and educating mothers on nutrition are important parts of the strategy going forward.

 

Commenting on the role of the parent, the study authors wrote: “It is possible that in countries with high child obesity, there could be a relationship to adult obesity. There is strong evidence that child weight status is associated with a mother’s weight status, particularly at these young age when a child’s health is solely dependent on the caregiver.”

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