www.Bariatric-Surgery-Source.com : Obesity Statistics in America: 1985 - 2009
Tackling Childhood Obesity Through Communication
1. Tackling Childhood Obesity
..the role of GOOD communication
Presented by Beverley Postma
AFIC Symposium on Food Safety Initiatives in Asia/Pacific.
SINGAPORE - April 29, 2009
2. Overview
• Childhood obesity: a global challenge
• Some basic facts
• The role of good communication
• An Irish case study
• Taking action in Asia
4. “Obesity is one of today’s most blatantly
visible – yet most neglected – public
health problems. If immediate action is
not taken, millions will suffer from an
array of serious health disorders”
World Health Organisation, 2009
5. A Global Epidemic
WHO and International Obesity Task Force:
300 million people around the world
are obese (BMI>30)
At least 155 million school-age
children are overweight or obese
(BMI>25)
6. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1985
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
7. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1986
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
8. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1987
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4”
person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
9. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1988
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
10. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1989
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
11. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1990
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
12. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1991
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
13. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1992
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
14. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1993
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
15. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1994
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
16. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1995
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
17. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1996
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
18. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1997
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
19. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1998
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
20. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1999
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
21. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2000
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
22. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2001
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
23. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2002
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
24. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2003
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
25. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2004
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
26. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2005
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
27. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2006
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
28. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2007
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
29. A Global Epidemic
WHO and International Obesity Task Force:
300 million people around the
world are obese (BMI>30)
At least 155 million school-age
children are overweight or
obese (BMI>25)
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
31. Defining Obesity
• Obesity means an excess amount of body fat.
• No general agreement exists on the definition of
obesity in children as it does for adults.
• Most professionals use published guidelines
based on the body mass index (BMI)
32. Definitions for Adults
• An adult who has a • An adult who has a
BMI between 25 and BMI of 30 or higher is
29.9 is considered considered obese.
overweight.
33. Impact on Children
PHYSICAL HEALTH EMOTIONAL HEALTH
• • Low self-esteem
Type 2 diabetes
• • Negative body image
Hypertension
• • Depression
Dyslipidemia
• Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) SOCIAL HEALTH
• Cholelithiasis (gallstones) • Stigma
• Sleep apnea • Negative stereotyping
• Orthopedic problems • Discrimination
• Asthma • Teasing and bullying
• Heart Disease • Social marginalization
34. Impact on Society
Estimates of Obesity-related
Health Care Costs (USA)
– U.S. Government $110 billion
– American Obesity
Association $237 billion
35. Contributing Factors
• Increased use of motorised transport
• Fall in opportunities for recreational physical activity
• Increased sedentary recreation
• Greater quantities & availability of energy dense foods
• More use of restaurants and fast food outlets
• More frequent and widespread food purchasing
opportunities
IOTF report to the WHO
36. ENERGY
ENERGY IN VS
EXPENDITURE
• More energy dense foods • Motorised transport
• More use of restaurants • Less physical activity
• More purchasing • More sedentary
opportunities recreation
37. Balancing the Energy Budget
FOR CHILDREN:
Maintain energy balance at a healthy
weight - while protecting health, growth,
development, and nutritional status
38. Diverse Diets
• Some years ago the photographer Peter
Menzel took pictures of 30 families in 24
countries, depicting the food they eat in
one week
54. Evidence-Based Communication
• Negative messages rarely work
• Demonising food can be unhelpful
• Mixed messages are confusing
• Focus on empowering parents
• Equip children with a new LIFE SKILL
55. A Collaborative Effort
• Governments • NGOs & Charities
• Health professionals • Community groups
(practitioners & researchers)
• Employers
• Food industry
• Media
• Schools & childcare
• Parents
providers
• Individuals
58. Estimated EU prevalence of overweight & obesity
18% of adults are
>300,000are
39% children
obese
areoverweight or
overweight
obese
The report of the National Taskforce on obesity force (2005)
59. Children & Teenagers
• In 2007, there were • Children 5-12 yrs*
1,056,947 children in 11% overweight
Ireland under the 11% obese
age of 18yrs
• Teenagers 13-17yrs**
(24.5% of the 11% overweight
population) 8% obese
(IUNA dietary surveys, *2005 and **2008).
60. Family Role Models
• 89% of all eating • Children with active
occasions for 5-12 year parents are 1.5 times
olds are at home* more likely to be
active than children of
inactive parents.
• Children of normal weight
parents are more likely to
• If BOTH parents are
be normal weight**
active, their children
are 5.8 times more
likely to be active.**
*Gibney and Burke, National Children’s Survey, 2005
**IUNA Dietary Surveys 2005, 2008
61.
62. Positive Collaboration
• National Taskforce on Obesity (est. March ‘04)
made 93 recommendations
• It recognised that a multi-sectoral approach was
necessary
• Greater co-operation with food industry
• Need to engage both EU and global level
63. Leadership in Action
The EU food industry has made 200
commitments (covering: food labelling;
education; physical activity; promotion;
advertising and product reformulation)
Irish food industry is at
the forefront of EU
activity
64. Nutrition & Health Foundation
• Multi-stakeholder organisation
• Industry-funded
• First of its kind in Europe
• Bringing together Government &
non-government stakeholders
• Communicating evidence-based
information on healthy lifestyles
65. Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs)
• The one, truly pan-European scheme
• Key information on calories, sugars,
fat, saturated fat & salt (sodium)
• Front of pack icons enable quick
decisions
• Irish uptake: 50% of branded food;
90% of retail own-brand products.
66. Consumers’ Verdict
• 75% of consumers find
GDAs easy to
understand
• 88% find GDA
information useful
• 87% feel GDAs help
you select healthier
choices
• 81% would like to see
GDA labels on more
food products.
68. Obesity in Asia
“The rapid modernisation of China & other Asian countries
has produced an alarming spike in the rate of obesity and
diabetes.
Rates of childhood obesity are rising at 1% each year -
roughly the same rate as Britain, the US and Australia.
Asia currently has aprox two-thirds of the world's diabetics,
around 90 million people”
Paul Zimmet, Chairman of
the International Obesity
Task Force (IOTF), 2006
69. Keys to Success
• Invest in positive collaborative solutions
• Insist on GOOD communication
• Equip young people with a new LIFE SKILL
• Empower parents and care-givers
• Demonstrate leadership
• Take action NOW