Childhood Obesity rate alarming – Health Minister

DOMINICA:  The percentage of overweight and obese children and youth in Dominica is increasing alarmingly says the Hon Minister for Health, Dr Kenneth Darroux.
Dr Darroux addressed the nation on Thursday, April 7^th in observance of World Health Day.
This year, the World Health Organization has placed its focus on diabetes.
Dominica adopted the theme, ‘Stay Super…Beat Diabetes.’
“Clinic data indicate the prevalence of overweight and obese children (0 -59 months) increased from 9% in 2000 to 12% in 2009; and an estimated 24.8% of adolescents (13-15 years) were overweight and 9.1%, obese.
“The International Diabetes Federation warns that 08 is one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21^st century. Each year, more and more people are diagnosed with the condition; further more children and adolescents are being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Concern for the disease, stems not only from the ill-health caused by the disease itself but also from the associated disabling and life-changing complications such as blindness, kidney failure, lower limb amputations and cardio-vascular (heart) disease.  The cost of treating these complications and the associated human suffering is of grave concern to us at the Ministry of Health and Environment and the Government by extension.”
He added, “It can be argued that much of the overweight and obesity among our children is directly related to the processed energy dense non-nutritious foods and drinks that they consume coupled with physical inactivity at home and in the school environment.  Some of our children are fed foods and drinks with high sugar and salt contents daily . Some of these so-called snacks can be classified as non-foods, yet our children consume them every day.”
The Minister says childhood and adolescence are critical periods when established eating habits and lifestyle behaviours can persist through adulthood.
Director of the Pan-American Health Organisation, Dr Carissa Etienne says the World Health Organisation is reiterating the message as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the burden of diabetes and the urgent need to step up action for its prevention and control.
Dr Etienne continued that this year’s World Health Day is an opportunity to highlight the role that individuals, Governments and all of society can play to help reverse the diabetes epidemic in the Americas.
She says it is time to join together to “step up and beat diabetes.”