Obesity

Brazilians are more fat. Over the past 30 years, therate of children aged 5 to 9 years are overweighthas nearly tripled. In the United States, thecampaign against childhood obesity engaged bythe first lady Michelle Obama, who launched theLet's Move (Let's Mix). There, one in three childrenis overweight. Here, research conducted inpartnership between IBGE and the Ministry ofHealth revealed similar statistics. Today, about33.5% of children with weight above that recommended by the World Health Organization(WHO). In the 70s, the rate was 10.7% for boysand 8.6% for girls.

The fattening of the statistics is linked to pooreating habits, and especially to an increasinglysedentary routine. Professor of the Centre forAssistance and Support to Adolescent Unifesp,the pediatrician and nutrition specialist FisbergMauro says the school is one of the majorinfluences on eating behavior of children. In the interview, he explains that a good school environment needs to provide adequate food,physical activity to teach, guide and control thefeeding of their students. Nor can leave asidethose who already exhibit overweight. All thiswithout forgetting that the pleasure of eating is also part of the menu.