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Study finds Fat children eat better diets than their thinner classmates
Overweight children often eat more healthily than their thinner classmates. That is the finding of a new Norwegian study. Now you might think that the researchers would consider that their 'healthy' diet might be the cause. But, no! The researchers blame a lack of exercise, rather than their 'healthy' diet, for the obesity. But, as we know, the 'healthy diet' is a recipe for obesity. The problem is that such a suggestion is not politically correct.
A study of 900 primary school pupils in Norway found that fat children ate healthy foods — such as fruit, vegetables, fish, and brown bread, as well as low-calorie cheese and yoghurt — more frequently than their normal-weight peers.
The research suggested that a good diet without exercise would not be enough to prevent weight gain.
The findings, in a study by Telemark University College and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, represent the latest contribution to the debate over whether diet or exercise is more important in combating obesity.
It follows research published in September that suggested that diet had the greatest influence on weight.
Academics monitored the weight, exercise levels and eating habits of 924 children aged nine and 10 and questioned their parents about their own lifestyles. The children were asked how often they had eaten a variety of foods, both for main meals and snacks.
The study found that fat children drank juice more often than their classmates of normal weight, who regularly consumed fizzy drinks and ate processed foods such as burgers, sausages, biscuits, pizza and sweets.
The researchers suggested families with children who are overweight may be more aware of the food they choose to eat than those who are less concerned about putting on extra pounds.
Professor Anne Lise Brantsæter, from the NIPH, who led the project, said: "It is positive that parents and children emphasise healthy food choices.
"However, it is important to note that the amount of healthy foods must be adapted to a child's activity level to limit further weight gain.
"Obesity is a growing problem that can have unfortunate consequences for the children both physically and mentally."
The researchers also found that overweight children were more likely to have overweight parents.
Prof Brantsæter said: "There are many contributing factors to obesity and it is important that both parents and children are given good guidance and support early on."
A previous study, from Professor John Speakman at the University of Aberdeen, came to a different conclusion, blaming excessive food intake for rising obesity levels.
He found that overall physical activity levels have remained constant for the last quarter of a century while weight levels have soared.
But these findings and comments just show how blinkered the medical world is. They simply cannot grasp the idea that their so-called 'healthy' diet could possibly be at fault, despite a century and more of study which demonstrates quite clearly that our 'healthy' diet isn't healthy. Until this happens, studies such as this latest one are really not worth the paper they are written on; and children will continue to get fatter and fatter, as well as suffering all the other health conditions that accompany obesity.
Reference
Oellingrath IM, Svendsen MV, Brantsæter AL. Eating patterns and overweight in 9- to 10-year-old children in Telemark County, Norway: a cross-sectional study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2010 Nov;64(11):1272-9
Last updated 8 November 2010
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