EUROPE: Obesity to hit "third of kids by 2012" - study

By: just-food.com | 7 July 2008

Over a third of children aged five to 13 will be overweight or obese by 2012, according to a report published today (7 July) by research analysts Datamonitor.

Some 35% of children will fall into that category within four years, Datamonitor warned, with many of the largest Western European countries seeing numbers rise by double-digits, in percentage terms.

Datamonitor blamed above-average consumption of "energy-dense, indulgence food and drinks", including savoury snacks and ice cream.

The analysts also pointed to non-food factors including lack of exercise and the importance of travelling by car to out-of-town retail parks and leisure venues.

In the UK, 37.5% of five- to 13-year-olds will be overweight or obese, equating to 2.3m kids, by 2012, Datamonitor said.

In Italy and Spain, nations famed for their healthy diet, numbers will rise by 47.5% and 45.3% respectively, according to the Datamonitor figures.

Outside Europe, more than 40% of US children aged five to 13 will be classified as overweight or obese.

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