The warning by Annabel Bentley, BUPA's assistant medical director, was given as the private healthcare company published a booklet of tips and recipes to help childcarers and parents encourage young children to break bad eating habits and be more active. The booklet, Helping Toddlers to Eat Well, has been distributed across BUPA's chain of 34 Teddies Nurseries.
Dr Bentley said obesity could leave children more susceptible to heart disease, depression, osteoporosis, respiratory difficulties and cancer. 'It is very worrying that Type II diabetes, which is also know as "adult-onset diabetes", is now being diagnosed in children,' she said. 'This is a fundamental change in disease pattern and is due to the rising level of childhood obesity. As well as bearing the psychological effects of being obese, for example being bullied or teased, obese children also reduce their life expectancy, and some experts are now predicting that obese children may be outlived by their parents.'
The booklet, written by chef Peter Vaughan, gives advice on balancing a toddler's diet, what drinks to serve or avoid and weekly menu plans including recipes. There are tips for encouraging fussy eaters to try new foods and tips for catering for vegetarian and vegan diets. Parents and carers are advised to restrict children's television viewing and encourage new physical activities and walking.
There are 200 copies of the booklet available free to Nursery World readers. Send an A5 SAE with a first-class stamp to Helping Toddlers to Eat Well, Lighten Up, Ash House, Littleton Road, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 1TZ.