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Bahrain parents warned over child obesity

Manama, August 25, 2012

Parents in Bahrain need to be trained to provide a healthy lifestyle for their children in a bid to tackle widespread obesity, warned health experts.

They are calling for a nationwide scheme to educate parents about the importance of setting a good example for children and encouraging them to be more active.

Some doctors say parents have been unintentionally putting their children at risk when they allow them to play video games and sit inside the house all day without any form of exercise.

'It is a behavioural habit because parents do not spend time with their children, so they resort to eating and watching television,' said Bahrain International Hospital Paediatrician Dr Mona Farrag.

'The attitude of buying fast food and substituting healthy meals should be stopped by parents. We should educate parents to help their children.'

According to latest figures, the obesity rate among adolescents, aged between seven and 18, is nearly 24 per cent.

The study was compiled by a team of European researchers from London-based online publisher BioMed Central, who ranked Bahrain number 10 in the heaviest country category.-TradeArabia News Service
 




Tags: Bahrain | Lifestyle | Obesity | healthy |

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