Local children fare well in obesity stakes

CHILD obesity is lower in Guernsey than in the rest of Britain and most of Europe, according to new research. Education and sports officials tested and measured more than 1,000 island secondary school children.

New figures show that among Year 7 pupils, 9.5% of girls and 8% of boys are overweight and 2.5% of the girls and 1% of the boys are obese.

The survey was carried out between September 2000 and December 2003 in all but two of the island's secondary schools.

Health officials were shocked at the results.

The island also fared better than Sweden, France, Italy, Spain, Canada and the USA.

'I am delighted and a little surprised by these findings,' said director of public health Dr David Jeffs.

'We hear a lot about children being addicted to junk food and spending their free time in front of a television or a computer so I was expecting higher levels of obesity.'

The research was undertaken by the former Education Council and Board of Health and the Sports Commission. It involved 570 girls and 671 boys.

Record numbers of children taking part in sport and the absence of burger bars were given as reasons for the low figures.

Dr Jeffs added: 'We are fortunate in that we now have some up-to-date and accurate local data.

'It is very reassuring that the weight and height of Year 7 students in Guernsey compare so well

with those in other Western countries.'

In the test, the 1,241 youngsters were measured and took part in a range of physical activities including throwing, catching, high jumps, sprinting and endurance tests.

Officials say they will continue to analyse the results and carry out further research.

Dr Jeffs added: 'I would like to urge two points of caution when interpreting the results.

'Firstly, although these numbers represent 79% of all girls and 90% of all boys present on the island at the time of the 2001 census, they are not representative of all Guernsey students in that two schools did not participate.'

Local youngsters compare favourably with a range of other countries. In Sweden, 9.8% of 10- to 16-year-old students were overweight and 2.2% were obese.

In France, 10% were overweight and 3% obese and in England, 13% were overweight and 5.5% obese.

Dr Jeffs added: 'International comparisons are drawn from the most recent published evidence from the International Association for the Study of Obesity (2005) carried out on 10- to 16-year-olds.

'The Guernsey students were all 12 or 13 years old and we are therefore not exactly comparing like with like.

'I am sure that parents, teachers and health and sports professionals all realise the health and psychological consequences of obesity and will wish to continue to advise young people to avoid junk food and fizzy drinks as far possible and try to

do at least some sport or physical activity on most days of the week.'

The increasing level of childhood obesity is a problem in all rich nations.

Cheap, fatty foods and the abundance of fast-food outlets have been blamed for rocketing levels.