Childhood obesity is set to increase, with incidence rates growing at the fastest rates in Asia Pacific countries, particularly China, while Europe and the US will retain the highest overall ratios, says Datamonitor.
Excessive consumption of energy-dense food and drinks is partly to blame, however, sedentary lifestyles, particularly a dependence on cars and public transport, are also part of the problem.
Datamonitor forecasts that over 35% of European kids aged five to 13 will be overweight or obese by 2012.
In the US, this figure will surpass 40%, while Asia Pacific countries, particularly China, are seeing the fastest increase in the percentage of overweight or obese kids.
In the UK, childhood obesity has trebled since the 1980s, and Datamonitor estimates that in 2007, 33% of five to 13 year olds were overweight or obese, which equates to 2.1 million children.
This number is expected to rise to 2.3 million by 2012.
Food consumption is clearly a factor, with children in Europe consuming more than the population average in many energy-dense, indulgence food and drink categories.
European kids consume 17% more than the population average in confectionery (9.8% UK), 23% in savory snacks (20.4% UK), almost 26% in ice cream (27.5% UK), and 33% in fizzy drinks (31.4% UK).
Furthermore, a reliance on packaged food has led to many children accessing a diet that is geared towards convenience rather than balanced nutrition.
In the western world, children are now suffering because their diet is not balanced and is too rich in calories.
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