Outdated attitudes to blame for rural children's obesity

A boy struggles while doing a sit-up at a summer camp to tackle child obesity in Zhengzhou, Henan province, on July 14, 2013. [Photo by Zhang Tao/Asianewsphoto]

Global data analysis shows that in developed countries the child obesity rates are higher in rural areas, while in developing countries child obesity is more often seen in cities. In China, both urban and rural areas are witnessing a growing number of obese children. Southern Metro-polis Daily commented on Wednesday:

Child obesity is the result of lifestyle, or in rare instances genetics.

Obese children usually eat too much high-fat and sugary foods and don't do enough exercise. Such a lifestyle increases the risk of suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease and other chronic non-communicable diseases as an adult.

Many people in rural areas still consider fat children as being cute and a good appetite as being healthy, and they even regard processed foods as the healthiest. These perceptions need changing.

Local governments and schools should join forces to raise awareness about obesity among families, so that children are encouraged to exercise more, and eat healthily and not in excess.

Finally, there should be some limits on advertising, especially celebrity endorsements of junk food. Children are easily convinced that if you eat the food endorsed by celebrities they will grow up to look like a star. Advertisements for sugary drinks and high-calorie snacks are especially bad in this regard.

Children's health is a social asset. It is the cornerstone of a healthy, wealthy and strong country.