Belt Sizes Booming in
UK Kids--Particularly Girls

LONDON (Reuters) - Waistlines of British children, particularly girls, are rapidly expanding, and researchers said on Thursday it is cause for concern.

The increasing girth of 11- to 16-year-old British boys and girls over the last 10 to 20 years could raise their risk of developing weight-related illnesses such as high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease later in life.

"We have shown that over a 10-year period in girls that there has been a dramatic increase in the waist circumference of about 2.5 inches across the age range of 11-16, and an equivalent increase in boys over 20 years," said David McCarthy of London Metropolitan University in London.

Overweight and obesity are measured by body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

But BMI measures total fat and does not take into account regional fat distribution. Medical studies have shown that where fat accumulates is important and that it is more dangerous around the abdomen than on the bottom and thighs.

"It is more worrying when we have these increases on the upper body because it carries a greater risk," McCarthy explained.

He added that waist circumference seems to be a stronger marker for obesity-related risks than BMI.

In a study reported in the March 22nd issue of the British Medical Journal, McCarthy and his colleagues compared data on height, weight and waist circumference of 4,560 children ages 11 to 16 over two decades.

The BMI of children in this age group rose over the time period of the study, but not as much as waist circumference.

"We should be concerned about the increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity because it is storing up the potential for ill health in the future," said McCarthy.

He added that expanding young waistlines are not unique to Britain and said data on Spanish children show similar findings.

The International Obesity Task Force and the European Association for the Study of Obesity has urged the European Union to ban advertisements for sugary drinks and junk food that target children.

As many as one in four children in some parts of Europe are affected by obesity, largely because they eat too much high-sugar and high-fat food, according to the two groups.

Reference Source 89

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