JUMP18

Obesity is the most significant public health problem affecting children and adolescents in Aruba¹. In 2010 25,6% of girls and 17,8% of boys in preschool were overweight or obese. Among fifth-graders in primary school, 43% of girls and 32,4% of boys were overweight or obese².

Causes leading to Childhood Obesity

Unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, lack of public transportation options, and lack of knowledge on how to live a healthy lifestyle have contributed to the incidence of overweight and obesity in children. Also, limiting beliefs and culture around food influences the prevalence of childhood obesity in Aruba³.

Consequences of Childhood obesity

Childhood obesity has been associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, psychosocial problems, stigmatization, malignancies, and orthopedic problems later in life⁴. Also, the likelihood of developing these diseases in adulthood is increased with childhood obesity, which further contributes to the disease burden and the rising healthcare costs within a country^5,6,7.