According to the world health organisation, there are over 300 million obese adults and 1.1 billion overweight people worldwide according. The number of overweight people globally is set to rise by 40% over the next 10 years to 1.5 billion.

Obesity can be seen as a reflection of western society, with America, the beacon of western democracy, at the head of the obesity tables. Developing nations who adopt a western style society also succumb to its downfalls with obesity levels steadily rising as the standards of living are improved. China has seen a tripling in rates of obesity since 1992.

Obesity is not an easy challenge to overcome; as today’s commercial markets include a very wide variety of foods that are unhealthy, but attractively marketed. The risk of increasing obesity levels is influenced by a range of factors, but more sedentary occupations, lack of exercise and poor diet are often to blame.

At first seen as an adult problem, children are fast catching up with their adult counterparts. Without intervention, the future prognosis looks bleak. Obesity requires immediate action to prevent today’s overweight children being the obese adults of tomorrow. Action needs to be targeted at children of a young age, before lifestyle choices and habits have become entrenched.

However it is just as important that adults and parents alike are able to make informed decisions about not just their own lifestyle habits, but those they instil in their children. Therefore, as has been the case with smoking, alcohol and drugs, the perils of obesity need to be highlighted, rather than a pure focus on the benefits of healthy choice. Children in particular need to know WHY an excess of certain foods, drinks and leisure activities leads to obesity and what CONSEQUENCES this has upon us.