Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

Soares-Wynter

Nearly one-fifth of Jamaican children, aged three and four years old, are clinically obese, an unpublished study has revealed.

The study, conducted in 2007 by the University of the West Indies UWI, revealed that 17 per cent of the children in that age range are overweight.

Dr Leslie Gabay, head of obstetrics, gynaecology and child health at the University of the West Indies (UWI), told The Gleaner that obesity was likely to follow children into adulthood. The incidence of obesity in Jamaican women is twice that of men.

He appealed to educational institutions to develop healthy meal plans for students at lunchtime to curb the spiralling rate of obesity in the country.

Global epidemic

Jamaica struggled with malnutrition as recently as 15 years ago, but has now become part of a global epidemic of obesity.

Gabay explained that excessive portions and an imbalance of fat, protein and carbohydrates were major contributors to obesity here.

He also highlighted the importance of sustained exercise, as many children were now spending much of their time in sedentary activities, such as watching TV and playing video games.

"The other part is that PE (physical education) and extra-curricular activities, for most of the children at school is almost non-existent. That creates a situation where, in fact, energy expenditure is less than (food) intake and these children are at risk of obesity," Gabay stated.

Stunted growth and early puberty, in addition to health-related problems such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension, are some disorders expected. Gabay said more children are showing signs of Type Two diabetes, commonly found in adults.

The Tropical Medicine Research Institute (TMRI) at the UWI, Mona, has been conducting research on obese children by identifying diet plans, consumption patterns and lifestyle behaviours.

Suzanne Soares-Wynter is leading the research at TMRI, which aims to devise preventative measures for obesity and intervention at an early age. She stressed that such measures would have to be culturally appropriate.

Alternative ways

"Obesity interventions used in schools in the United States, such as swimming, would not necessarily work in our school settings. We don't have a lot of gyms and they are expensive, so we need to find alternative ways," Soares-Wynter explained.

She suggested, instead, that specific areas of playing fields at schools and in communities be designated for children to go jogging or walking to encourage physical activity.

Gabay told The Gleaner that many of the convenience meals, such as sodas, patties, snacks and fried food, sold at schools are high in fat content and calories.

"In those situations, the children are getting exposed to foods which have high-calorie density and high volumes. The other problem is that they are not getting a good balance in their nutrition," Gabay said.

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com