Posted on 05/02/2006 9:28:38 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
The keynote speaker at Queensland's first obesity summit says the notion of "puppy fat" in children is a myth.
Dozens of health and associated professionals have gathered at Brisbane's Parliament House for the two-day forum.
Professor Louise Baur say research shows at least one in five children entering school is already overweight or obese.
She says puppy fat leads to a minefield of social and medical problems later in life.
"The child will not necessarily grow out of it, in fact they're highly likely not to," she said.
"Overweight and obesity in children and young people is associated with very significant complications.
"I think we can surely see obesity as the millennium disease, the the 21st Century epidemic and we're having to deal with it here now."
Food labelling
Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has also addressed the conference, saying he would like to see better and more prominent nutritional labelling of convenience and junk food.
Mr Abbott has stopped short of legislating for the change.
But he says people need to understand clearly and simply what the food they are eating is doing to their weight and their health.
"People need to understand that if they wolf down a Mars bar, that's one-eighth of their daily food needs," he said.
"If they have a magnum on the train or the bus, that's one-eighth of the daily food needs.
"If they have a meat pie for morning tea, that's one-sixth of their daily food needs."
When I was three I had rolls of fat. By the time I was 8 I'd had a growth spurt and was positively gaunt. I am now a fairly trim adult. I think I did indeed have puppy fat.
The food police are working overtime. Beware!!!
We call them 'Health Nazis' here!
I personally have seen dozens of boys in puberty "pudge" up and then gave a growth spurt and get very skinny , tall and healthy. I don't know who they are trying to fool!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.