Increased overweight and obesity among school-age children
According to the Institute of Nutrition, a survey in 2023 at 10 primary schools in Hanoi showed that at 5 primary schools in the districts of Dong Da, Hoan Kiem, and Hai Ba Trung, 45.5 - 55.7% of 5th grade primary school students were overweight or obese. At 5 primary schools in the districts of Ba Vi, Soc Son, Phu Xuyen, and Thach That, this rate was from 20.9 - 31.1%.
Overweight and obesity in school age children cause many health consequences.
In 10 years (2010 - 2020), on average nationwide, the rate of stunting malnutrition in children decreased from 23.4% to 14.8% but the rate of overweight and obese children increased (from 8.5% to 19%).
A recent study of 500 obese children aged 6-10 found that 50% of children aged 6-10 had dyslipidemia. This rate increased to 35-45% in children aged 7-9.
Obesity and dyslipidemia were mostly found in middle-aged people in the 80s and 90s of the last century, but are now quite common in young people, including school-age children.
Proposal to control food sold in school canteens
Notably, according to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi Nhung, Head of the Department of School and Professional Nutrition (Institute of Nutrition), the cause of overweight and obesity among school-age children is due to students having an unbalanced and undiversified diet.
Many children do not like to eat crab, fish, shrimp; do not like to eat vegetables. Children eat a lot of fast food, processed food, foods high in sugar and lack physical activity.
Some surveys in schools show that, in school canteens , 23% of the food consumed by students is candy; 41% is salty food (sausages, instant noodles, dumplings...). Fruits account for only 1%, soft drinks (sweet) are 28%.
In a 2018 survey of 48 canteen staff from 48 schools in several major cities, 100% of staff said that choosing healthy foods is important, but 18.7% of staff had not received nutrition training; 20.8% - 33.3% did not know how to prepare healthy food by steaming and boiling.
The percentage of canteen staff who did not know that low-sugar and low-fat foods were healthy was 16.7% and 12.5%. More than 29% of canteen staff did not know that low-salt foods were healthy.
"There should be regulations on foods sold in school canteens to reduce the consumption of foods that easily cause excess energy; schools and families need to spend time for children to exercise to avoid children becoming overweight, obese, and prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the future," Ms. Nhung said.
The foods in the school cafeteria or near the school that students use for snacks are very rich in energy.
Just one hot dog sandwich; instant noodles with hot dog or a rice cake or dumpling already provides about 200 - 400 kcal. To burn off all this energy, you need to run for at least 2 hours.
Meanwhile, after the snack, when they get home, children recharge their energy during dinner and hardly do any physical activity. This is the reality that causes large "residual" energy, causing overweight and obesity in school-age children.
Institute of Nutrition
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