Sydney (dpa) - Sending fat children to see doctors is not making
them any thinner, exercise more or eat healthier food, researchers
said Friday.
The findings, from Melbourne's Children's Research Institute, have
just been published in the British Medical Journal.
They are a worry given that 30 per cent of Australian children are
overweight, compared with 20 per cent 10 years ago and 10 per cent in
1994.
Researchers led by Melissa Wake split a group of 250 overweight
children aged 5-9, with one half receiving no intervention and the
other half given 12 weeks of sessions with doctors about diet and
exercise.
A year on, they found no appreciable weight difference in the two
groups.
"Effective solutions remain elusive, even when obesity is
identified," Wake said. "It's time for real and immediate political
and public health action to manage childhood obesity."
She said it was worth trying to get in early because fat children
become fat adults and have more than their fair share of sickness,
sadness and health care costs.
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