The IOTF statement:

“The Chief Medical Officer’s report in 2002 provided an uncompromising official analysis from the Department of Health, which highlighted the very real epidemic of childhood obesity in Britain.

“Taking 1990 as its starting point, it showed that the proportion of children who were in the top 5% of body mass index in 1990 had more than doubled by 1996 and more than trebled by 2001. This has been reported to Parliament by the minister of health as compelling evidence of an escalating trend.

“The IOTF’s international standards, which provide a different approach to quantifying overweight and obesity allowing comparison over time and between different populations, should not be compared simplistically with the Department of Health data.

“However it is significant to note that an analysis of childhood data in the UK using the IOTF standards has demonstrated clearly the rapid and accelerating change taking place. Just two decades ago on this basis obesity affected 0.6% of boys and 1.3% of girls. By 1994 the situation had changed with 1.7% of boys, and 2.6% of girls affected. The most recent data available for 2002 showed that the obesity figure has risen to an average of 6% for both boys and girls, with a further 18% overweight.

“Already cases of type 2 diabetes have been identified in obese children – a phenomenon without precedent, whilst the early evidence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease being found among children due to inappropriate diets is not in dispute.

“There is no need to exaggerate the facts on obesity – they speak for themselves.

“The IOTF is working both in the UK, the EU and with the WHO worldwide to ensure that effective measures are taken to address the epidemic of obesity.”

Feb 15 2005