Bad nutrition has led to a sharp increase in childhood obesity among students of urban schools.

Obesity in city schools on the rise

According to a survey by the HCM City Nutrition Centre, the rate of overweight children under five years increased from 2.2% in 1999 to nearly 11% in 2010. In a number of primary schools in HCM City the rate of obesity has risen up to 38%.

At a conference on overweight children recently held in HCM City, Doctor Dao Thi Yen Thuy, from the city's Nutrition Centre said that the centre has taken cases of children who are just seven or eight years old but weigh as much as 100kg. Many of them suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure, she said. The centre's task is to monitor the health of young children who are morbidly obese.

She also warned that childhood obesity has been on the increase, particularly in HCM City, most of which comes from unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. Most children have a much higher calorie intake than is necessary and, at the same time, have little physical activity, preferring to play video games or watch television.

Doctor Do Thi Ngoc Diep, Director of the HCM City Nutrition Centre, said that obesity leads to other medical issues, such as as bone joint problems, depression and even cancer. He said that the best solution is to encourage children to be active and avoid fatty and sugary foods.