Breastfeeding and cafeterias contribute to low childhood obesity in the Algarve

Despite the “better quality” food on offer in the Algarve school cafeterias, there is still work “to be done” in the vending machines

The high rate of breastfeeding and the quality of the food supply in schools make the Algarve the region of the country with the lowest prevalence of childhood obesity, according to data from a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), carried out in Europe and presented on the 19th of October.

According to data collected in 2019 under a study by the European Child Nutrition Surveillance System, in the Algarve region approximately 10,3% of children have childhood obesity and 11,5% are at a level close to obesity.

Speaking to Lusa, the regional coordinator of the study indicated that the numbers can be explained by the high rate of breastfeeding (92,1%), as well as the “better quality” food supply in cafeterias and the existence of nutritional education content. in the curriculum of all schools.

"The greater the success in breastfeeding, the greater the success in preventing childhood obesity, which is added to the level of literacy of parents, for example", stressed Teresa Sancho, who coordinated the WHO European study in the Algarve.

For the nutritionist, since the first study, in 2008, that the Algarve has come up with "good indicators", which she attributed to a regional program to combat childhood obesity started in 2006, with the region being a "pioneer" in combating the problem .

“We carried out a lot of training with family health and education professionals – pre-school and 1st cycle teachers – so that each one in their work could positively influence the lifestyle of children and families”, he stressed.

At the same time, since 2004 there has been a program in the region to promote the nutritional quality of school meals in «the entire public school network, from pre-school to secondary», which evaluates «all menus in all schools», applying corrective measures.

However, despite the “better quality” food supply in the Algarve school cafeterias, compared to other parts of the country, there is still work “to be done” in the vending machines, he said.

Regarding the values ​​of breastfeeding, they are explained by the work done by the breastfeeding corners since 2007 which gave «good support» to the difficulties in breastfeeding, whose success is later reflected in obesity.

Despite these numbers, that specialist defended that it is necessary to work better in the school context, the way in which children "move" in their leisure time, even within the school.

“Something as simple as putting music on between breaks leads to a dynamic dance and reduce screen time – mobile phones and television – and help reduce the tendency of increased screen consumption”, he defended.

However, despite the good results in terms of obesity, according to the study, the region is also the one with the highest prevalence of underweight in the country (3,5%).

This is the fifth round of studies with the aim of evaluating the nutritional status of children in the 1st cycle of basic education, from six to eight years old, and monitoring childhood obesity every two to three years.

In the Algarve, the study evaluated 16 children in the 523 municipalities of the region, out of a national total of 7.096.

Teresa Sancho took the opportunity to warn that the covid-19 pandemic came to "evidence" that obese people are those with a "greater risk" of developing severe disease and stressed that "most hypertensive patients are obese", as well as most diabetics.

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