Obese children likely to die 20 years before healthy children

A new report revealed the shocking statistics.

Four in five children who are obese are likely to fall into the dangerously overweight category for the rest of their lives, resulting in the reduction of their life expectancy by up to 20 years. The UK’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) released a new report that highlighted how the lack of proper health education is having a hugely dangerous effect on the life expectancy of overweight children. They say the health cuts that have been made in the UK in recent years have affected children the most and are now calling for changes to be made.

“The science exists for all to see; invest in the health of children and make a huge difference to their health in later life and hence to their economic productivity,” says Professor Neena Modi of the RCPCH. “For example, four-fifths of obese children will remain obese as adults and this will result in them losing between 10-20 years of healthy life. That’s a frightening statistic.”

These findings closely mirror those of a study completed in Ireland by the University College of Cork that found that over 85,000 children will die prematurely as a result of childhood obesity and serious weight issues.

“One in four children on the island of Ireland are overweight or obese and with a 70 percent risk of this tracking into adulthood, this can result in lifelong and inter-generational ill health,” said Director of Human Health and Nutrition at Safefood, Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan. “Much can and must be done to lessen this otherwise inevitable and unacceptable burden on society and implementing the obesity strategies North and South is the way forward.”

The new figures have resulted in more demands for the advertising of unhealthy foods to be banned before watershed on television.