Australian Government Study Foresees Huge Spike in Childhood Obesity in Australia

QUEENSLAND, Australia April, 2012 – *A recent study released by the Australian government reveals that child obesity in Australia is increasing at an alarming rate. Around 1.5 million people under the age of 18 are considered overweight or obese and 20-25% of Australian children are overweight or obese. The growth of child obesity in Australia reflects the worldwide spike in childhood obesity worldwide. The study further shows that children are getting less aerobic exercise and consuming too much junk food. If weight gain continues at current rates, by the year 2020, 80% of all Australian adults and a third of all children will be overweight or obese. www.childhoodobesityanswers.com/

*The Queensland study found that up to 30% of Australian children have low fitness levels while 60% have poor motor skills. An intake of high-energy foods such as junk food, combined with a low level of exercise or a sedentary lifestyle based around computer games is causing this energy imbalance. One study estimates that for every 1% increase in the proportion of physically active people, nearly 122 lives can be saved that would have been lost to coronary heart disease, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes. All of these diseases have been linked to obesity.

A stroke victim herself, children’s author Sharon Cooper is fully aware of the horrible effects that high blood pressure and heart ailments can have on people’s life. Sharon believes that tackling poor health habits early in life can prevent the growing trend for unhealthy, inactive and short lives.

Sharon Cooper wrote ‘Superfood Spike and the Fart of Junkfood Jimmy’, the short novel which allows parents to bring up the difficult subject of unhealthy weight, childhood obesity and junkfood advertising in a way that kids find fun. The novel uses very ‘kid-relevant’ terminology, such as “fart”, which children can relate to. www.childhoodobesityanswers.com/

Children can read about Superfood Spike’s quest to try and teach Junkfood Jimmy what junkfood does to the body and how important it is to make healthy eating choices, providing a lot of laughs for kids while giving parents a tool to raise awareness about junkfood and superfood in a fun and engaging way.

*Child obesity has been linked to an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in an adult regardless of the adult weight. Being overweight as a child brings increases the likelihood for heart related diseases like high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and high blood sugar. Childhood obesity is also related to respiratory disorders, orthopaedic problems, release of growth hormone, arthritis, and gastric problems.

Sharon urges parents to address this dangerous issue with their children as young as possible as healthy eating habits are easier to form the younger the person is. Superfood Spike and the Fart of Junkfood Jimmy elicits laughter as it drives home a very important message – the truth about junkfood leading to childhood obesity and how superfoods help reverse these effects. www.childhoodobesityanswers.com/
 
*Source: http://www.child-obesity.info/child-health/alarming-statistics-about-child-obesity-in-australia.html

Contact Information

Sharon Cooper

Author

Superfood Spike

forest.blooms@bigpond.com.au