Obesity
Study shows increased chronic illness in children and adolescents
The disturbing international comparative study on health behaviour in school children (HBSC), conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), European regional offices, have been presented by the research director for Germany, Professor Hurrelmann, Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Bielefeld, at the 3rd German Congress for Health Services Research.
‘Although children and adolescents consider themselves quite healthy, chronic illnesses have continuously increased in that age bracket over the last three decades,’ said Professor Klaus Hurrelmann, President of the congress.
One cause is early and uncontrolled consumption of psycho-active substances such as cigarettes, alcohol and illegal drugs. Two further factors are poor eating habits and lack of physical activity - both the underlying cause obesity. In Germany alone, depending on the definition used, 10-20% of children and adolescents are considered obese.
In view of these developments it is important that children become health conscious from very early on and learn permanent self management because such chronic - an non-chronic - illnesses often mean a substantial decrease in the quality of life. But these children are not the only ones who suffer, for their families have to adapt and adjust to unexpected pressure and often a change in lifestyle.
At the congress patient education programmes were presented that were developed with children and adolescents. Such strategies take into account the special needs of young patients, because difficulties in handling chronic illnesses seem to increase after puberty.
Source: Young people’s health in context. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study: international report from the 2001/2002 survey. Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2004 (Health Policy for Children and Adolescents, No. 4).
This article was published on 07/01/2004