During the period 1980 to 2000, there was a marked increase in the incidence of childhood obesity,
Today, about 3 percent of all Swedish children in the low-stage suffer from obesity . This prevalence is relatively low compared to southern Europe, where the corresponding proportion is 15–20 percent . Since the turn of the millennium, the prevalence globally has remained unchanged, but at a much higher level than before.
A child of ten years of age with obesity is also likely to suffer from obesity as an adult .
Obesity is a disease with a risk of early development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and a variety of other diseases. Other consequences are social difficulties and shorter life.
Differences in families' income, educational level and country of birth are included. Low incomes can increase the risk of obesity through both intake and consumption mechanisms. Foods that are low in energy and rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber are expensive. Membership fees in various sports associations are expensive. Sports equipment can involve tangible expenses, as well as entrance fees to, for example, swimming pools and ice cream parlors.
Knowledge is also important. Parents who have completed college education are probably better placed to support their children in developing a critical approach to advertising - an important aspect given the massive advertising pressure affecting children through, among other things, television.
Moving to Sweden from another country can increase the risk of obesity, for example through dietary changes. The move often results in low and uncertain income. This, as well as relatively high prices of vegetables and fruits compared to the former country, may limit the purchase of these foods.
Unsafe living conditions, isolation and discrimination create stress and increase the risk of obesity. The colder and darker climate can prevent you from moving much outdoors. Those who have experienced starvation are probably less likely to listen to any signs of child and school health care about signs of obesity problems.
Today, many children / young people have their own computer, a mobile phone with exciting games and a large TV offering, sometimes via their own TV. The content of these devices fascinates and binds young people, it "steals time", affects mentally and leads to physical inactivity.
Car density has increased; In 1980, there were 2.8 million registered cars compared to 4.6 million in 2012 [20]. Children are now being pushed and losing useful everyday exercise, for example on the way to school. Parents are pushing because they are worried that the child will be bullied or have difficulty coping with traffic.
This is probably one of the reasons why portions have now grown larger both at home and abroad. The portion sizes for burgers, french fries and soft drinks are two to five times larger than 50 years ago, which means that you get a large portion of the energy demand in a single burger meal. Larger portions trick us into eating more and lead to a greater intake of calories.
The trend is also that an increasing part of the diet consists of things that provide energy without contributing to such great extent to either saturation or intake of vitamins and minerals. One contributing factor may be that it is more expensive to eat a varied diet, which is not as energy-dense . About a quarter of the energy intake of today's children comes from sweets, ice cream, soft drinks and snacks.
Compared to the 1980s, consumption of sweets in Sweden has increased by more than 50 percent and the consumption of soft drinks has tripled. This means that we have increased the consumption of soft drinks by one glass a day on average. Probably the increase is greatest in the young generation.
However, measures to change habits would be important, since exposure to television advertising, the number of hours in front of the monitor and whether the child eats in front of the TV are associated with higher soft drinks and sweets.
Thus, in addition to contributing to inactivity, television and monitor habits can also influence eating habits.
Research shows the parents' dilemma when to combine different health aspects. In order to dare to allow their child to play or ride a bicycle, the parent must be confident about the child's safety. Traffic policy and planning of the external, physical environment are therefore important.
Another area of similar conflict for parents is to ensure that the children receive nutritious food, while also taking into account the taste preferences and social coherence of the meals.
In addition, one should consider the importance of eating habits for the environment. Several of the measures that facilitate good eating habits and increased physical activity are climate smart, and therefore really important for children's health and future. An example of this is that consumption of vegetables increases at the expense of meat, meats and fatty dairy products.
Research shows that policy decisions can facilitate health-promoting food choices, but that better and more systematic evaluations of the effects of different types of recommendations are needed to promote healthy eating.
Creating good outdoor environments so that all residential areas have good lighting and safe playgrounds are other important measures to reduce inequality.
It is time for leading politicians, especially at the national level, but also in municipalities and county councils, to understand that there is much more to be done and that they have a great responsibility in this.
Today, about 3 percent of all Swedish children in the low-stage suffer from obesity . This prevalence is relatively low compared to southern Europe, where the corresponding proportion is 15–20 percent . Since the turn of the millennium, the prevalence globally has remained unchanged, but at a much higher level than before.
A child of ten years of age with obesity is also likely to suffer from obesity as an adult .
Obesity is a disease with a risk of early development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and a variety of other diseases. Other consequences are social difficulties and shorter life.
Obesity - a lifestyle disease
Obesity is part of and is an important marker for "non-communicable diseases", ie diseases where the social and living environment has a major impact. WHO emphasizes that these lifestyle diseases will increase in the future and dominate over the traditional infectious diseases [15].Politics and obesity are related
Obesity has to do with politics and society is evident from the fact that countries in the 'rich world' with large income disparities have a higher incidence of obesity than countries with minor differences. Even in individual countries, there is a large variation in the prevalence of obesity in children.Differences in families' income, educational level and country of birth are included. Low incomes can increase the risk of obesity through both intake and consumption mechanisms. Foods that are low in energy and rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber are expensive. Membership fees in various sports associations are expensive. Sports equipment can involve tangible expenses, as well as entrance fees to, for example, swimming pools and ice cream parlors.
Knowledge is also important. Parents who have completed college education are probably better placed to support their children in developing a critical approach to advertising - an important aspect given the massive advertising pressure affecting children through, among other things, television.
Moving to Sweden from another country can increase the risk of obesity, for example through dietary changes. The move often results in low and uncertain income. This, as well as relatively high prices of vegetables and fruits compared to the former country, may limit the purchase of these foods.
Unsafe living conditions, isolation and discrimination create stress and increase the risk of obesity. The colder and darker climate can prevent you from moving much outdoors. Those who have experienced starvation are probably less likely to listen to any signs of child and school health care about signs of obesity problems.
Society today is obesity-induced
Society has undergone major changes since the beginning of the 1980s, ie during the same period of time when the prevalence of obesity increased so significantly. This new living environment has radically changed children's habits. Personal computer was a foreign concept in 1980, there was no mobile phone and usually only a television set with a few channels.Today, many children / young people have their own computer, a mobile phone with exciting games and a large TV offering, sometimes via their own TV. The content of these devices fascinates and binds young people, it "steals time", affects mentally and leads to physical inactivity.
Car density has increased; In 1980, there were 2.8 million registered cars compared to 4.6 million in 2012 [20]. Children are now being pushed and losing useful everyday exercise, for example on the way to school. Parents are pushing because they are worried that the child will be bullied or have difficulty coping with traffic.
Constant supply of sweets and drinks
Another change in society in recent decades is the constant availability of food, sweets and drinks. Shops are open around the clock and attract with easy-to-buy comfort, fast energy kicks, cheap entertainment and gold edge on everyday life. The supply has also changed. Large packages and large portions are a profitable way to compete for customers, as the cost of raw materials is a small part of the price.This is probably one of the reasons why portions have now grown larger both at home and abroad. The portion sizes for burgers, french fries and soft drinks are two to five times larger than 50 years ago, which means that you get a large portion of the energy demand in a single burger meal. Larger portions trick us into eating more and lead to a greater intake of calories.
The trend is also that an increasing part of the diet consists of things that provide energy without contributing to such great extent to either saturation or intake of vitamins and minerals. One contributing factor may be that it is more expensive to eat a varied diet, which is not as energy-dense . About a quarter of the energy intake of today's children comes from sweets, ice cream, soft drinks and snacks.
Compared to the 1980s, consumption of sweets in Sweden has increased by more than 50 percent and the consumption of soft drinks has tripled. This means that we have increased the consumption of soft drinks by one glass a day on average. Probably the increase is greatest in the young generation.
Don't put the whole burden on the family
The family is of course extremely important for the children's diet and physical activity. In order for families to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a society is required to make this possible. For example, it is not easy to limit the children's time in front of the monitor in an environment where so much revolves around TV, computers and tablets.However, measures to change habits would be important, since exposure to television advertising, the number of hours in front of the monitor and whether the child eats in front of the TV are associated with higher soft drinks and sweets.
Thus, in addition to contributing to inactivity, television and monitor habits can also influence eating habits.
Parents' dilemma
All in all, young people today live in an obesity-causing environment, which makes it difficult to find the balance between energy intake and consumption. If parents are to be able to support their children for health-promoting habits, a surrounding community is needed that facilitates and facilitates this. Therefore, promoting healthy weight and equality in health requires the collaboration of many actors at several levels - from family to the surrounding community.Research shows the parents' dilemma when to combine different health aspects. In order to dare to allow their child to play or ride a bicycle, the parent must be confident about the child's safety. Traffic policy and planning of the external, physical environment are therefore important.
Another area of similar conflict for parents is to ensure that the children receive nutritious food, while also taking into account the taste preferences and social coherence of the meals.
In addition, one should consider the importance of eating habits for the environment. Several of the measures that facilitate good eating habits and increased physical activity are climate smart, and therefore really important for children's health and future. An example of this is that consumption of vegetables increases at the expense of meat, meats and fatty dairy products.
Research shows that policy decisions can facilitate health-promoting food choices, but that better and more systematic evaluations of the effects of different types of recommendations are needed to promote healthy eating.
Less inequality - better habits
Measures at a societal level can reduce the wide disparities between different socio-economic groups' opportunities to support children in developing healthy habits. The importance of income levels decreases if healthy food is cheap and costs associated with sports activities are subsidized. Limiting advertising means that the ability to handle it is not as important.Creating good outdoor environments so that all residential areas have good lighting and safe playgrounds are other important measures to reduce inequality.
Act now!
Future obesity drugs as well as obesity surgery are helpful for those suffering from obesity. However, the sustainable alternative in the long term is preventative measures, especially for children and young people. Measures are required both in health care and in a number of other arenas in society. Current efforts at the national level to protect children and promote a healthy growing environment are far from adequate. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children have equal rights to health.It is time for leading politicians, especially at the national level, but also in municipalities and county councils, to understand that there is much more to be done and that they have a great responsibility in this.
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