Table of ContentsConsequences of Childhood ObesityContributors to Childhood ObesityPrevention of Childhood ObesityChildhood obesity is becoming an increasingly important problem in today's society , not only in the UK but in many other countries, such as the United States and Canada, which is astonishing. The statistic that proves that such a thing is actually a problem is that the rate of obesity among children has almost tripled since 1963, which is a real problem, because not only are they in poor health as children, but they become unhealthy adults, also according to the WHO. (World Health Organization) The number of overweight or obese infants and young children (aged 0 to 5 years) increased from 32 million worldwide in 1990 to 41 million in 2016. In the African Region alone, WHO, the number of overweight or obese children increased from 4 to 9 million over the same period. The vast majority of overweight or obese children live in developing countries, where the rate of increase is more than 30% higher than in developed countries. If current trends continue, the number of overweight or obese infants and young children worldwide will reach 70 million by 2025. The economic costs are also high. In Britain we spend more each year on treating obesity and diabetes than on the police, fire and justice system combined. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Consequences of Childhood Obesity Obese children are more likely to develop various health problems as adults. These include: Cardiovascular disease Insulin resistance (often an early sign of impending diabetes) Musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis - a highly disabling degenerative joint disease) Certain cancers (endometrium, breast and colon) Disability.Contributors to Childhood ObesityTwo major contributing factors, in My belief is that few people eat a healthy enough diet and don't get enough exercise. For example, only 2% of American children eat a healthy diet and more than 25% do not participate in any unintentional physical activity. Choosing healthy foods for infants and young children is also essential because food preferences are established early in life. Feeding infants energy-dense foods high in fat, sugar and salt is also a key contributor to childhood obesity. However, there are many other factors that contribute to childhood obesity, such as lack of information about healthy approaches to nutrition. and the lack of availability and affordability of healthy foods contributes to the problem. Aggressive marketing of energy-dense foods and beverages to children and families further exacerbates it. In some societies, long-held cultural norms (such as the widespread belief that a fat baby is a healthy baby) may encourage families to overfeed their children. The increasingly urbanized and digitalized world offers fewer opportunities for physical activity through healthy play. Being overweight or obese further reduces children's opportunities to participate in group physical activities. They then become even less physically active, making them likely to become more obese over time. Prevention of childhood obesity Overweight and obesity are largely preventable (but not always, as in hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome). Policies,.