WHO Advocating Food Marketing Limits for Childhood Obesity

On Friday, health officials have stated that Governments need to work with the industry to confine advertising of foods which are high in salt and dangerous fats aimed at children to undertake the epidemic of other obesity and other diseases.

This new act is in part on a focus on the combating of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, lung and heart disease and diabetes. These are the growing causes of premature death especially in poor countries.

The focus of the global health policy this year will be non-communicable disease, concluding in a controversy of heads of state at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

The executive board of the World Health Organization (WHO) meeting held this week, has been in discussion on how to make use of the leader's attention and a set of new recommendations undertaking marketing harmful food to children is part of that effort.

Dr. Timothy Armstrong, head of WHO's efforts on promotion of healthy diet and physical education, states that non-communicable diseases are the cause of 90% of premature deaths in low to middle income countries, where obesity is a continual uprising problem.

In total 42 million children in the world are obese or overweight and that is in children under five years old, the United States figures have shown 22 million children under five years old and 35 million are from poor countries.

Acknowledgment that the advertising of junk food and beverages rich in salt, sugar, saturated and trans fats inspire children to consume these foods. Advertising can also promote healthy diets, led the WHO's assembly last May to call on the United Nations agency to prepare the recommendations.

The recommendations are geared to undertake both the rate of advertising and it's strength as in example using cartoons which attract children.

Prominent Companies

Officials of WHO had conferred with prominent companies in the area such as Coca-Cola, Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft, Mars, Nestle, McDonald's, Pepsico, Unlever and the World Federation of Advertisers.

The companies did agree to draft a code of conduct and have agreed not to market unhealthy products to children under twelve years of age.

Some companies such as General Mills are living up to honor this pledge.

However, there could be other markets where companies are not adhering to the same pledge on advertising to children

Dr. Armstrong is not disclosing who the companies are or the markets involved. He has noted that WHO has a feeling that the companies were not honoring their pledge in poor countries in the way it had seemed to be in developed markets.

The varying outcomes emphasize the significance of governments overseeing the practice of any agreements reached with the industry.

Dr. Armstrong states the idea is that the government must take charge of the process.

It is up to the governments to decide on the best method. Some could prefer to legislate a restriction on advertising, others may just solely watch self-regulation with the industry. WHO is in acknowledgment that the legislation and enforcement is beyond the ability of some small poor states.

Dr. Bjorn-Inge Larsen, director of general health for Norway, states a lot of advertising reaches children by the way of international television stations therefore, domestic legislation may not be effective.

Governments have an array of choices, these recommendations were just the beginning step according to Dr. Larson. By apply pressure to the companies to cut down on advertising and in the end the manufacturing of these products would evolve in the same way as attempts to restrict the consumption of tobacco had alcohol has accomplished.

The recommendations set forth by WHO may be viewed online at WHO publications.

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a serious uprising problem in the U.S.. These children are at risk for developing diabetes, coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, hypertension, orthopedic issues and psychosocial disorders.

Obesity is defined by Body Mass Index. For children and adolescents with a BMI for age in the 85th to 95th percentile are considered overweight and those greater than 95th are considered obese.

The most noted effective treatments for children:

Review families dietary habits.

Safe exercise programs including weight training and increased leisure activities.

Limit television time and those activities in which has child sitting for long periods of time.

Use positive non-food rewards for children to help them achieve goals.

Family support or weight loss support group geared to children.

Alternative treatments:

Acupuncture

Both acupuncture and acupressure can suppress food cravings.

Researchers in Russia have shown that acupuncture can aide children enduring obesity or being overweight. Children had not only felt better after the treatments but also tests did shown that it did led to decrease in body mass and fatty tissue content. It also increased performance, cardiovascular functioning and normalized blood serum lipids.

Yoga

The meditation practices of yoga can create and reinforce a positive self-image which aides the child to be determined to lose weight. It also improves physical strength, mental concentration and peace within themselves. Most children do enjoy yoga.

Chiropractic

In October of last year the theme for Chiropractic month was "Why Weight? Get Healthy". Chiropractic care concentrates on approved prevention and treatment choices for patients training to manage weight.

The weight-bearing joints in the body which include hips, ankles, knees and lower back can become stressed at times due to gained weight. Chiropractic helps to regain the balance so you have less pain during weight loss activities.

Any spinal misalignment will make the body function improperly. A misalignment can affect the nervous system due to the stress on the body and can negatively affect the bodies functioning. When the misalignment is corrected the bodies functioning can be restored to normal.

Chiropractors will take health history followed by an examination before deciding on the appropriate treatments. Chiropractic care is safe and effective for all people including children. Many parents take their children in for regular chiropractic checkups just as they do health exams. It is rated the number one choice in alternative medicine today.

For BMI calculator for children you can locate them online such as at Keep Kids Healthy. Sources;

MSNBC

Family Health Chiropractic

Health of Children

Anne Collins

Obesity Action

A & L Chiropractic Center