Childhood obesity: analysis of eating habits and physical activity

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has come to consider obesity as “the epidemic of the 21st century”, because of the scope acquired and its impact on morbidity, quality of life and health expenditure. According  to the WHO, Spain is one of the countries in the EU with the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity; affects 56% of adults and around 40% of children and adolescents; unfortunately the Extremadura region presents rates of overweight and obesity above the national average.The number of children and adolescents between the ages of five and 19 who are obese has multiplied by 10 in the world in the last four decades. The conclusions of a new study conducted by Imperial College London and the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that, if current trends continue, in 2022 there will be more children and adolescents with obesity than with moderate or severe weight-bearing There is a certain lack of knowledge about what healthy eating is, however, the population’s concern for nutrition and the nutrition-health relationship increases every day. In this study we set out to do an evaluation from the school to know the eating habits and physical activity routines promoted for children from the early childhood education stage.