Food matters
- By Eugene Clark and Lisa Chambers
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 31, 2014
Among the requirements for a healthier country are:
1. Supportive policies are required at all levels of government. These policies include regulation and enforcement of food standards; education about food, consumer advertising, family support, training of health care professionals in relation to nutrition, and so on.
2. Supportive environments in families, schools and communities. These are fundamental in shaping parents' and children's choices, making the healthier choice of foods and regular physical activity the easiest choice (accessible, available and affordable), and therefore preventing obesity.
3. Education to support healthy pre-pregnancy weight. High pre-pregnancy BMI and excess gestational weight gain are both independently associated with an increased risk of child and adolescent adiposity. Obesity and excess weight gain by the mother increase the likelihood for a large for gestational age infant (LGA). LGA have increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic abnormalities later in life.
4. Catching the problem early in pre-school years. Obesity is a problem that emerges in the pre-school years and continues to be a problem throughout the life span. Healthy eating behaviors need to be established early in life and is the responsibility of the individual, the family and the wider environment including: schools, social policy, government agencies. Children's eating is influenced by their exposure and accessibility, the modeling behavior of peers, siblings and parents with the best evidence for parental modeling. Parents should thus be educated on how to promote healthy eating.
5. Improved early childhood education. One of the single most important strategies is to encourage and educate mothers about the importance of breastfeeding. There exists strong evidence that breast feeding in comparison to formula feeding is associated with a reduced risk of becoming obese during lifespan. Breastfeeding is associated with a greater acceptance of new foods and greater acceptance of a variety of foods during the early introduction of solid foods.
6. School-aged children and adolescents should: limit energy intake from total fats and sugars; increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; and engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes a day).
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