Obesity amongst Lebanese children on the rise

 ResearchOBESITY among children and adults has almost doubled over the past 15 years, something which could also increase the prevalence of chronic diseases in the next generations, warned researchers at the American University of Beirut.
 The study by the Associated Unit (ARU) on Undernutrition and Obesity found about one in six children under 10 years old is now obese, according to the findings of the unit, which collected its data in 2009. In contrast, one in 10 children under 10 was obese in 1997. Meanwhile, one in four adults over 20 years old and one in eight adolescents in the 10-20 age group are obese. In 1997 only one in 18 adolescents was obese.
Obesity is a prime risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders as well as other diseases. In fact the ARU study found that 30% of obese children and 20% of obese adolescents show a predisposition for chronic diseases.
"Research has shown that diet in the first two years of a child's life sets the stage for chronic diseases and other health problems later on in life," said Prof NahlaHwalla, lead researcher and the dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at AUB.