FAST FACTS ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY
1 min read
/
Obesity
- Paediatric obesity has reached epidemic proportions when compared with just 20 years ago.
- Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century.
- Globally, in 2016 the number of overweight children under the age of five, is estimated to be over 41 million. Almost half of all overweight children under 5 lived in Asia and one quarter lived in Africa.
- The vast majority of overweight or obese children live in developing countries, where the rate of increase has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries.
- The number of overweight children aged under 5 in Africa has nearly doubled since 1990.
- Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications and an increased risk of premature onset of illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease.
