Putting children's health at risk

Being overweight or obese is a serious matter for anyone – young or old.

A poor diet and not enough physical activity, resulting in weight gain, are two of the three major factors of chronic disease – which lead to half of all global deaths.

Young people are increasingly suffering from serious illnesses and conditions associated with obesity. These include asthma, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, gallstones and high blood pressure. Children as young as five are already showing the early signs of developing heart disease. Overweight teenagers can suffer severe joint problems. Alarmingly, obesity threatens to reduce the life expectancy of a generation of adolescents for the first time in recent history – by up to nine years.

Being obese can also have a serious impact on children’s self esteem, and cause depression and social isolation. It can also bring on early puberty.

Obese children are very likely to become obese adults but, if the problem is recognised and treated in childhood, they have more chance of becoming healthy weight adults.

The good news is that the problem is treatable and MEND is here to help. We want to halt the rise of global childhood obesity levels so that young people aren’t facing a lifetime of health problems. Our Programmes can turn lives round and transform people’s lifestyles, health and overall outlook.