Overweight children are more likely than children of normal weight to eat healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, dark bread and potatoes, as well as low-calorie cheeses and yoghurts, according to a study by scientists at Telemark University College and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
924 children aged 9-10 participated in the study, informs the EurekAlert website. It found that overweight children were more likely to drink juices and sweetened drinks. The other children drank mostly sodas and ate unhealthy, processed foods such as burgers, sausages, biscuits, pizza, and sweets.
The results suggest that overweight in the family makes both parents and children more and more aware of the consequences of food choices.
Overweight children, however, turn out to be still much less physically active than their peers. They also have obese parents more often.
On the positive side, parents and children emphasize healthy food choices. However, it is also important that the number of healthy meals is adjusted to the child’s activity level in order to reduce further weight gain, said Anne Lise Brantsaeter of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
She added that obesity is an increasing problem that can have unfortunate consequences for both the child’s physical and mental health. There are many factors that lead to obesity. Therefore, it is important that both parents and children receive good guidance and support early enough. (PAP)
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