Focus on an "obesogenic" environment rather than kids behavior to battle obesity

According to researchers reviewing numerous anti-childhood obesity programs, the focus to prevent it should be on strategies that seek to change children’s environments rather than their behavior.

The researchers said that environmental approaches improving physical activity and dietary habits are the key to prevention measures.

To find which forms of intervention could have a maximum effect to help prevent obesity in children, an international team of researchers updated a previous Cochrane Review by searching for new evidence from existing studies to see which forms of intervention work best.

Researchers targeted children ages 6-12 with school-based programs that encourage healthy eating, physical activity, and positive attitudes to body image.

The researchers highlighted the key strategies that could be considered for prevention measures including healthy eating, physical activity and body image in school curricula.

The key findings are:

• Increasing physical activity and the development of fundamental movement skills during the school week.
• Improving the nutritional quality of food supplied in schools.
• Creating environments and cultural practices within schools that support children eating healthier foods and being active throughout each day.
• Professional development and capacity building activities which help to support teachers and other staff as they implement health promotion strategies and activities.
• Giving more attention to parent support and home activities that encourage children to be more active, eat more nutritious foods and spend less time in screen-based activities.

Source: http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20111207/8141/how-to-prevent-childhood-obesity-prevention-measures-for-child-obesitywatch-your-child%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s-dietch.htm

WHO calls for junk food ban in schools, playgrounds

Junk food should not be sold in schools and playgrounds, the World Health Organisation said Friday in a series of recommendations aimed at promoting a healthy diet and cutting child obesity.
However it fell short of calling for a ban on advertising directed at children for foods high in saturated fats, sugars or salt, opting instead to ask member states to "consider the most effective approach to reduce" such marketing.
The non-binding recommendations will be put to a high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases during September's General Assembly in New York, WHO officials said.
"Settings where children gather should be free from all forms of marketing of foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or salt," said the UN health agency.
"Such settings include, but are not limited to, nurseries, schools, school grounds and pre-school centres, playgrounds, family and child clinics and paediatric services and during any sporting and cultural activities that are held on these premises," it added .
Some 43 million pre-school children are obese or overweight, according to WHO data.
"Children throughout the world are exposed to marketing of foods high in fat, sugar or salt, which increases the potential of younger generations developing noncommunicable diseases during their lives," it said.
Six out of ten deaths every year are due to cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases, the WHO warned, pointing out that a common factor of the four main diseases is poor diet.

Source: Google news. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jfzUeW7BjDuqLjipN5Meuy969_Ew?docId=CNG.8c7c2d37b80a7efbfd66908fa452bb99.2f1