Parents and educators should review the dietary habits of children

Alarmingly high levels of incidence are approaching the problem of obesity among adolescents and children. In less than two decades, as reflected the figures from the Ministry of Health, Spain has tripled their numbers as far as children and young people (2-24 years) are concerned, drawing to an obesity rate of 13 , 9%, and another 12.4% this refers to overweight. Also, while in this age group the prevalence of obesity is higher among men (15.6%) than women (12%), the highest figures are found in prepuberty and in particular in the age group 6-12 years, with a prevalence of 16.1%. All these figures place our country at the top in Europe as far as incidence of obesity and overweight concerns.

With this backdrop, when addressing the main reasons that may have led to this situation must be taken into account, without doubt, a major food shortage. Therefore, and starting the analysis for breakfast, it appears that this first meal of the day is devoted entirely insufficient time. According to the study enKid, managed by the Ministry of Health, 6.2% of Spanish children and young people do not usually eat breakfast, there is a clear link between this poor eating habits and obesity. To this must be added the fact that, according to that study, nearly 60% of children engaged in the breakfast within 10 minutes, which is associated with low nutritional quality. On the other hand, the National Health Survey also found that only 7.5% of children take a balanced breakfast consisting of milk, fruit or juice and carbohydrates. By contrast, 19.3% of the children and young people only drink a glass of milk and 56% only accompanied by a carbohydrate.

Also, the other meals are not much more advantageous, considering social and educational context in which children spend many hours a day (three according to recent studies) in front of the TV or computer, and eat in a long time less than a few years ago, either at home or at school. In fact, the importance of time and the quality of food, are key preventive factor for obesity and overweight children and adolescents. At this time, traditional diets have been replaced by others with a higher energy density, which means more fat, mainly of animal origin, more added sugar in food, coupled with a decreased intake of complex carbohydrates and fiber .

To give some examples, the percentage of obese children Valencia has risen from 5% to 16.1%, according to the Ministry of Health. In the case of Murcia, the Child Care Plan for Adolescents in the Region, nearly three out of 10 (26%) of children aged 2 to14 years of Murcia are overweight or obese.

From the Institute of Obesity want to make a special emphasis on the need for education on dietary habits of children as the best way to tackle the course, without forgetting that a balanced diet is important in all stages of life, but especially, if possible, during the development of children. So must focus from the outset by a varied and balanced diet. In this sense, cereals, potatoes, fruit or vegetable has to be among the foundations of a proper diet, moderate fat intake, especially of animal origin, and sugar. All this without forgetting the importance of physical exercise as a factor in development at these ages.

A sedentary lifestyle also influences childhood obesity. 45 percent of Spanish parents said their children spend more than two hours daily to passive forms of entertainment such as watching television, playing games or being on the computer, according to results of a study by the Foundation from more Alimentum 1,500 parents from across Spain.

For communities, 72 percent of children Murcia spends over two hours to "sedentary leisure, followed by La Rioja, with 60 percent and 56 percent of Catalonia. At the other extreme, children spend less time in this type of entertainment are the Balearic Islands (20%), Basque (28%) and residents in Castile and León (28%).

Food habits, 70 percent of Andalusian and Castilian-La Mancha say instill healthy habits to their children early, but the current lifestyle or certain foods that do not like the younger ones do it "more difficult." Parents of Baleares and the Basque Country are the least aware, since only 40 percent of them emphasizes nutrition education for their children.

Dr. Adelard Caballero, director of the Institute of Obesity, has a degree in Medicine and Surgery, General Surgery specialist Digestive and Organ Transplantation, Chief Resident of General Surgery and Gastroenterology of the Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. It is one of the pioneers in the use of the intragastric balloon for treatment of obesity in Spain, introducing more than 1,000 in the last five years, with very good results. He has also done over 500 speeches gastrectomy.