MCHJ: the prevalence of obesity in children has nearly doubled worldwide

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine have found that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has nearly doubled worldwide since 1990, affecting every continent. The findings are published in The Maternal and Child Health Journal (MCHJ).

Researchers analyzed medical data on the incidence of obesity worldwide. The results showed that in Southern Europe (also in Greece, Italy and Spain) between 10 and 15% of children suffer from the disease. The rate of increase is slightly slower in Eastern Europe, but the prevalence of obesity may soon equal that in the southern part of the continent.

Globally, almost 50% of overweight children under five live in Asia and about 25% in Africa. In Latin America, about 20% of children under the age of 20 are overweight. Many developing countries are experiencing a double burden: there are simultaneous problems with overweight and malnutrition in the child population.

Researchers have also found that overweight and obesity in children in the U.S. has reached epidemic levels and is beginning to take on pandemic proportions on a global level. These conditions lead to hypertension, increased risk of type 2 diabetes and abnormalities in lipid metabolism, which in turn contribute to metabolic syndrome.

In adults, excess body weight increases the risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis and some forms of cancer, which are now being diagnosed more frequently in younger people.