The Facts

Key Fact 1: WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (2017)

The number of overweight or obese infants and young children (aged 0 to 5 years) increased from 32 million globally in 1990 to 41 million in 2016.

If current trends continue the number of overweight or obese infants and young children globally will increase to 70 million by 2025.

Without intervention, obese infants and young children will likely continue to be obese during childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications and an increased risk of premature onset of illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease.

79%

of children feel happier after exercise.

72%

of children feel more confident after exercise.

74%

of children feel more sociable after exercise.

Key Fact 2: Public Health England (2017)

The number of children meeting the recommended amount of physical activity for healthy development and to maintain a healthy weight, which is 60 minutes a day, drops by 40% as they move through primary school.

A new survey from Public Health England (PHE) and Disney looking at the effects of physical activity on children’s emotional wellbeing, found:

• being active made the majority of 5 to 11 year olds feel happier (79%), more confident (72%), and more sociable (74%), according to their parents

• nearly all children said they liked being active (93%)

• the main motivations for kids to be more active was having friends to join in (53%) and having more activities they liked to choose from (48%)

• children’s overall happiness declines with age; 64% of 5 and 6 year olds said they always feel happy, compared to just 48% of 11 year olds

• 19% of children said they were less active due to a lack of sports or activities they enjoyed

Key Fact 3: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (2017)

• Between 2001 and 2010, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among children and adolescents decreased, but still accounts for 10% of total caloric intake

• Between 2003 and 2010, total fruit intake and whole fruit intake among children and adolescents increased. However, most youth still do not meet fruit and vegetable recommendations.

• Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents age 2–18 years—affecting the overall quality of their diets. Approximately half of these empty calories come from six sources: soda, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, grain desserts, pizza, and whole milk.  Most youth do not consume the recommended amount of total water.

Summary

There is a huge amount of evidence out there that our children are not exercising enough, are eating poorly and that there is a link between these factors and their mental health.