Number of overweight kids triple in 30 years

The number of overweight children and youth in the country increased three times in the last 30 years, reported the national broadcaster Yle quoting the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

About 25 per cent of the boys under 17 are overweight while one in every six girls under 17 is overweight.

Part of the reason for the situation is changes in the dietary habits and so the size of portions has grown, nutritionist Anette Palssa told Yle.

“Children snack between meals, and we have all kinds of snacks, many of which contain lots of sugar. As well, a family sitting down to eat at 5:00 pm every evening is less common,” the Yle report quoted Palssa as saying.

Children nowadays move less, which also has been pointed out as a reason for the overweight.

Being overweight as a child often leads to being overweight as an adult, said the report quoting an expert.