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Prevalence overweight and obesity in children in Latin America and the Caribbean is above the global average amid a “disturbing” escalation in the past two decades, UNICEF warned
Prevalence overweight and obesity in children in Latin America and the Caribbean is above the global average amid a “disturbing” escalation in the past two decades, UNICEF warned Thursday, which asked countries in the region to announce prevention of this condition is a national priority.
Among children under 5, the prevalence of overweight in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased from 6.8% or 3.9 million in 2000 to 8.6% (4.2 million) in 2022. above the current global average by 5.6%.
While among children and adolescents aged 5 to 19, the prevalence of overweight increased from 21.5% or 35 million in 2000 to 30.6% or (49 million) in 2016 compared to the global average at 18.2%.
In other words, in Latin America and the Caribbean over four million people under the age of 5 and nearly 50 million ages 5 to 19 are overweight, according to the report “The wave of childhood overweight is on the rise. Too late to turn the tide in Latin America and the Caribbean?” by the United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF.
Overweight and obesity contribute to the development of noncommunicable diseases
“It is alarming how the wave of excess weight is reaching more and more children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean,” UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Harry Conil, said in a statement released by his office in Panama City.
Photo: Dark room
Being overweight prevents children and adolescents from “growing up healthy and reaching their full potential.” This population is more prone to persisting into adulthood, contracting non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and some types of cancer, and a shorter life expectancy, he explained.
“Worrisome” regional trends in overweight and obesity, whose prevalence has been “increasing over the past two decades” are the result of conditions conducive to obesity, where the consumption of unhealthy foods high in sugar, fat and salt is encouraged and which limits physical activity.
Such environments “are abundant in the region, especially in urban areas where it is estimated that more than 165 million children and adolescents live. Repeated exposure to these types of food environments affects personal preferences, food choices, unhealthy eating habits, and physical activity practice» minors and their families, “thus contributing to the prevalence of overweight among children in the region,” said UNICEF.
More politics and participation of key sectors
That is why this Thursday the world body called on the countries of the region to declare “prevention of overweight in children a national public health priority”, encouraging “the contribution of key actors such as public sector, academia, civil society, private sectorand involve minors and adolescents “as agents of change”.
Photo: Dark room
UNICEF also requested analyze children’s overweight and its reasons for countries to select and implement a package of cost-effective, evidence-based comprehensive interventions with a child rights approach, and to increase public investment and resource allocation for child overweight prevention, including health systems. , among the others.
“We have an urgent and collective task ahead of us. reverse the wave of childhood overweight in Latin America and the Caribbean. From now on, we must further accelerate action to prevent overweight early in life by prioritizing the well-being and health of our children and adolescents,” stressed the Regional Director of UNICEF.
EFE
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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