New Study Claims 41 Million Kids Under The Age Of Five Are Obese

The World Health Organisation has released shocking statistics about childhood obesity, revealing that 41 million kids under the age of five are overweight,

"Children with obesity are very likely to remain obese as adults and are at risk of chronic illness," the UN health agency said in a just-released report,

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"(Obesity) has the potential to negate many of the health benefits that have contributed to increased life expectancy".

According the WHO 31 million children were recorded as being overweight in 1990 and that has now increased by ten million.

Low to moderate income families were the biggest factor in this increase in obesity during that timeframe where numbers have more than doubled from 7.5 million to 15.5 million.

Children who grow up in countries facing hunger are also prone to obesity in later life as they start to eat more and engage in a different lifestyle.

"Childhood obesity is often under-recognised as a public health issue in these settings, where, culturally, an overweight child is often considered to be healthy," WHO said.

In the lenghty report, WHO called on the government to make a change to childhood obesity by taxing junk food and promotion a healthier life.