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The prevention of obesity in children

Tim Lobstein1

  • 1Childhood Obesity Programme of the International Obesity TaskForce, London, UK. childhood@iotf.org

Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews : PER
|January 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity in Europe is rising rapidly, with over 400,000 new cases annually. Effective prevention requires broad policies addressing marketing and the environment, not just families and schools.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood overweight and obesity prevalence in Europe has dramatically increased over the past two decades.
  • The European Union (EU) faces at least 400,000 new cases of overweight children annually, including 85,000 obese children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the urgent need for effective prevention strategies for childhood obesity.
  • To underscore the limited evidence base for current child obesity prevention interventions.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a review of current trends and evidence in childhood obesity prevention.
  • It synthesizes observations on the scope and limitations of existing prevention strategies.

Main Results:

  • The evidence for child obesity prevention is limited, offering few generalizable observations.
  • Prevention likely necessitates comprehensive policies extending beyond family and school.

Conclusions:

  • Policies addressing the wider social context, including marketing controls and built environment safety, are crucial.
  • Scientists and physicians, through professional organizations, can advocate for policy changes to combat childhood obesity.

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