Poor diet can have a direct impact on children’s health – for example, frequent sugar consumption leads to dental decay. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which used to be known as “late onset”, traditionally found in the over 40s, is increased by poor diets, and is now increasingly found in adolescents.
A major problem of poor diets is excess energy intake, which results in obesity.
Obesity
According to latest figures, one in three children is overweight or obese by the time they finish primary school, and despite a reduction in the rate of increase, the overall proportion of children that are overweight continues to rise. The 2007 Foresight Report on Obesity made grave predictions for the future state of the nation’s health, estimating that without action, 55 per cent of boys, and 70 per cent of girls, could be overweight or obese by 2050, with obesity costing the country £45 billion a year.
The consequences of childhood obesity are now clear: incidences of high blood pressure, raised cholesterol and even clogged arteries in children are rising. Obesity in childhood is likely to develop into obesity in adulthood, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers in later life.
The psychological impact of obesity can be as damaging as the physical for many children. Being overweight or obese is associated with increased levels of distress, disadvantage, stigma and psychological problems.
The Children’s Food Campaign is calling for a number of policies to improve children’s diet and health. Find out more.
Children's Food Campaign: Campaigning for policy changes so that all children can easily eat sustainable and healthy food.
