CHILDHOOD obesity is a prevalent phenomenon that is threatening our nation’s future. A study found that close to 30 per cent of children in primary and secondary schools in the country are obese.
Obese children are at risk of becoming obese adults and developing non-communicable chronic diseases, such as heart or cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Obese children are also prone to feeling stressed, pressured, lonely and suffer from low self-esteem.
Children become obese due to unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity.
Parents and schools need to help children eat right to stay healthy.
Parents play a significant role in curbing childhood obesity.
They should help their children develop good eating habits. This will go a long way towards good health over their lifetime.
Parents must ensure that physical activity is a part of their children’s daily lives. Children should be involved in physical activities and games.
The Education and Health ministries need to carry out a long-term comprehensive plan to improve the nutrition of schoolchildren.
As a short-term measure, the Health Ministry has plans to introduce nutritionists in schools to combat obesity among schoolchildren.
The nutritionists, who will be in charge of a few schools in a district, can ensure the implementation of school canteen guidelines and provide ideas to canteen operators on how to prepare healthier meals for children.
Though efforts are in place to ensure that school canteens are clean, it should also look into serving healthy and nutritious food.
Food sold in school canteens are still far from healthy. Even some food listed on the school canteen guideline by the Education Ministry lack nutrition.
The majority of food served in school canteens fall in the category of fried, oily, sweet and processed food.
Apart from that, preserved fruits, ice cream and carbonated drinks are also sold in school canteens.
While these foods may be tasty, they are not nutritious and can contribute to obesity.
The Education Ministry’s guideline on the type of food that should be sold in school canteens needs to be revised.
There is a need for proper and systematic enforcement by the school authorities.
Nutritionists will be the best
authority to keep a watchful
eye on school canteen operators
to ensure they do not flout the guideline set by the Health and Education ministries.
It is paramount that food served in school canteens should be healthy and nutritious so that children can get a head start with a healthy lifestyle.
SAMUEL YESUIAH, Seremban, Negri Sembilan