A survey of 860 paediatricians in Canada shows that the problem of child obesity continues to get worse because parents refuse to see that their children have a problem. The study revealed that parents acted defensively when the subject of their child’s weight was broached, whilst showing very little interest in helping their child to lose excess weight.

Although this survey was carried out in 2005 and 2006, the results have only just been published, with doctors agreeing that the problems have increased since that time. The majority of doctors agree that (more…)

Owning a pet dog could reduce child obesity and the health risks that are linked to children being overweight. A study carried out by St George’s University of London has shown that children who have a pet dog are in better physical shape than families who are pet free.

Overweight children are at increased risk of illnesses such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, early physical maturity and depression. Activity monitors were placed on 2065 children aged between 9 and 10 over a week. The children came from 78 schools in Birmingham, London and Leicester, with 202 of the children owning dogs. The research, led by Dr Christopher Owen, a senior lecturer in epidemiology used the monitors to record the levels of activity.

Results shown that the children who owned dogs were physically active for 11 more minutes a day than children who didn’t have pet dogs. Dog owners spent 11 minutes less than children without dogs in sedentary behaviours, while also taking 360 more steps than the other children.

The conclusion from this research is that owning a dog encourages children to be more active, either playing with the dog or taking them for walks. This is an encouraging step towards reducing child obesity. The same conclusions were reached in the same study of adults, with dog owners taking 1700 more steps on average than a person who doesn’t own a dog.

A study undertaken by the University of California has shown that a virus which is responsible for respiratory infections may also be to blame for child obesity. The study is likely to cause huge debate amongst experts as previous evidence of this link has been disputed.

Half of the children in the study of 124 children aged between (more…)

A leading professor has claimed that eating too much is responsible for today’s obesity levels, rather than a lack of exercise. Professor John Speakman, who is a member of Energetics Research Group at the University of Aberdeen, has spoken out to say that the increase in obesity is completely due to eating too much rather than a sedentary lifestyle.

The Professor says that although the level of physical activity has remained constant over the last 25 years, weight levels have soared. According to (more…)

A new campaign has been launched by NHS Birmingham East and North to help improve the eating habits of children in Kingstanding and Oscott. Recent research has sown that 10 percent of children in the Birmingham East and north area are obese by the time they start school, with that figure rising to 25 percent in some areas by the time they reach year six.

The campaign is aimed at (more…)

Parents are becoming more concerned about health and safety in school playgrounds. A survey carried out by Play England and British Toy and Hobby Association, on more than 2000 (more…)