Government seeks to reduce child obesity
Jin Dae-woong
The government plans to provide financial assistance and health management programs for overweight children next year as a growing number of children suffer from obesity-related diseases.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday said it is considering establishing a special subsidy to help obese children from poor homes reduce weight, amounting to 120,000 won ($130) a child for three months.
The subsidy will be provided to a total of 56,460 elementary school students from households below the average income level.
It will also develop and run programs on diet, exercise, health education and physical training in cooperation with schools and local government bodies.
"Being overweight during childhood bears serious negative impacts on the health of the children. We'll exert our utmost on preventing child obesity more systematically and effectively," a Health Ministry official said,
According to ministry data, 17.9 percent of boys and 10.9 percent of girls in elementary schools are overweight this year. The figures have nearly doubled in the last three years.
The comparable figures are 25 percent and 33 percent in the United States and Great Britain, respectively.
The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity said in its recent report that 68 percent of obese children remain overweight into adulthood, facing the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure.
The obesity control program will be initially provided to the 10 most at-risk children in each school. The ministry plans to designate special instructors to run exercise programs for the target children. Those kids will also receive education on health and nutrition.
Childhood Obesity in Korea
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