Childhood obesity, lifestyle and the environment
Research highlights the important role of environmental factors in supporting healthy growth, nutrition, and physical activity in children
About
Childhood obesity is a global public health problem, with an estimated 391 million school-aged and adolescent children being classified as overweight and188 million being classified as obese. Poor diet, lack of physical activity and sedentary behaviours, stress, prolonged screen time and behaviour–environment interactions (involving both the built and chemical environments, including exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals) all contribute to today’s high rates of childhood obesity, with diet being the single biggest driver of the rise in childhood obesity. Obesity-related complications are also on the rise. These include hypertension, metabolic syndrome, type 2diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, asthma and mental health conditions, all of which are associated with an increased risk of obesity-related morbidity and mortality in adulthood.
The associated economic costs of obesity are staggering, with projected global annual costs of over US$2.47 trillion in 2025 and US$4.32 trillion by 2035 and estimates of a 3 per cent obesity-associated loss in gross domestic product. To tackle rapidly rising childhood obesity, countries at all income levels can adopt environmental policies in homes, schools and communities that prevent and reduce obesity.
