Children in Taiwan watch TV, but not their weight

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Children in Taiwan watch TV, but not their weight

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Taiwanese children are not doing enough exercise to stay healthy according to a recently released survey by the Chinese Dietetics Society. Supported by the Asian Food Information Centre, the survey examined the physical activity patterns and height and weight of over 1,000 Taipei school children aged 9 to 12. Information was also collected on dietary patterns and food likes and dislikes.

The survey found that 20.6% of boys and 11.2% of girls are obese, having a waist to height ratio of greater than 120% of the ideal body weight for their age. The results parallel the findings of recent studies conducted in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, in which increasing incidences of childhood obesity have been linked with low levels of physical activity - a correlation particularly evident in young boys.

A wake-up Call

"It's clear that kids are leading a much more sedentary life than ever before," said Dr Chwang Leh-chii, President of the Chinese Federation of Dietitians Associations and one of the study coordinators. "These results provide a wakeup call that our kids need to get up and move." "Obesity is one of the most serious problems facing the youth of Asia. The root cause is simple: if you don't spend as many calories as you consume, you will put on weight. An active lifestyle combined with a nutritious diet leads to a multitude of health benefits and protects against numerous illnesses."

While the Taiwanese children participated in three physical education classes per week at school, they were largely inactive after school. The most common after-school activities were watching television, homework, housework, and listening to music. Interestingly, two thirds of the children surveyed believed they were getting enough physical activity. This was in marked contrast to the views of their parents - 70 percent said that their children's activity levels were too low for good health and fitness. Experts agree. According to the United States National Association for Sport and Physical Education, children should aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. Less than one third of the children surveyed achieved this level.

Reasons for not getting enough physical activity included a lack of time (49%), no one to exercise with (21%) and a lack of space or opportunity to exercise (19%).

"Childhood obesity has been increasing across Asia for some time," added Dr Chwang. "Studies show that obese children are more likely to become obese adults. This in turn increases their risk of developing obesity-related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high blood cholesterol."

Recommendations to prevent and treat obesity in children

The researchers developed six recommendations based on the survey findings.

Recommendation I: Develop more space and facilities for outdoor physical activities.

Taipei, like many other Asian cities, has a high population density and limited space in school buildings. One third of the parents said that there was no facility near the home for their children to exercise. "Making more space and better facilities available will encourage children to be more active" said Dr Chwang.

Recommendation 2: Develop more indoor physical activities

The availability of indoor facilities means that additional opportunities are available to exercise. This is particularly important in climates where the winters are severe or where it rains frequently. In Taipei, it rains about half of the year.

Recommendation 3: Encourage parental participation in physical activities

Children learn by example. In the study, only 40% of fathers and 25% of mothers liked to exercise and only half had undertaken more than 20 minutes of exercise in the week prior to the survey. "If parents themselves partake in physical activities and exercise with their children, their children are more likely to exercise," said Dr Chwang.

Recommendation 4: Increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables

Only 70% of the children in the survey ate vegetables and fruits daily. Many of the children rely on the school to provide lunch and these lunches are often low in fruits and vegetables. Dinner is a good opportunity to introduce more vegetables into a child's diet and fruits make great snacks.

Recommendation 5: Provide individualised nutrition counseling

Obese children and their families should seek professional help from dietitians working in healthcare facilities.

Recommendation 6: Limit the time spent watching television

The most popular leisure activity for children is watching television. And more than a third of the children surveyed said they snacked while watching television or ate their meals in front of the television.

t_Articles

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