According to the Surveillance Study of Growth, Food, Physical Activity, Child Development and Obesity in Spain (ALADINO), the prevalence of overweight was 23,2% and 18,1% obesity in 2015. "While it is true that these data, obtained among girls and boys from 6 to 9 years, have decreased with respect to the 2011 records, where the statistics were between an 2 and an 5% above, there is still a long way to go", says Mª Ángeles Martín Ballester, dietitian and nutritionist of the Nutrition Unit of HLA San Carlos.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that obese infants are more likely to develop in adulthood heart disease, insulin resistance, musculoskeletal disorders, some cancers (endometrium, breast and colon) or disability. In this sense, the HLA dietitian in Denia explains that "There are many factors that contribute. For example, during pregnancy, gestational diabetes can lead to greater birth weight and increase the risk of obesity in the future, so that an adequate diet of the pregnant woman is very important, as well as the choice of healthy foods for infants and young children, since feeding preferences are established early", Says the professional and adds that" at this stage hypercaloric foods high in fat, sugar and salt are the main causes that will lead to the appearance of the disease years later ".
Food culture, a weight problem in childhood
On the other hand, the lack of food and nutrition education, always at a disadvantage with regard to the information and advertising bombardment of the hypercaloric food and beverage industry available to children and families, further aggravate the weight problems in childhood. "In some societies there are still strong cultural patterns such as the widespread belief that an overweight baby is a 'healthy' baby, which may encourage families to overfeed their offspring", Regrets the specialist of the Nutrition Unit, and continues that "In a society increasingly mechanized and digitized, there is a decrease in physical activity through healthy games. In addition, overweight or obesity reduce the chances of children to participate in group physical activities, so they become less active, which predisposes them to have more and more overweight.
All this is preventable from childhood. Together with the advice of experts such as those of the HLA Nutrition Unit San Carlos Office, "Prevention programs and school health promotion, health centers, municipalities and any environment that surrounds children are fundamental, because they collaborate in a correct decision making of parents and children regarding their customs, making of the consumption of healthy foods and physical activity regulate their habitual way of life, and the best prevention of these pathologies ", says María Ángeles Martín and adds that "It is important that the whole family learn to read and understand the nutritional labeling of the products, know the different types of food and nutrients they provide, and how to complement dinners when the main meal is served in the school cafeteria".
Ultimately, "Both in the prevention and in the treatment of childhood overweight and obesity, the joint action of health professionals, family members and children's school environment will be crucial, teaching them the appropriate decision-making around their diet, to ensure optimal growth and prevent certain diseases in adulthood ", concludes the HLA San Carlos professional.
