Commentary: Reducing inequalities in child obesity in developed nations: What do we know? What can we do?

Freudenberg, Nicholas

Inequalities in child obesity within and among nations result from unequal distribution of resources and environments that prevent unhealthy weight gain--healthy food, opportunities for physical activity, primary and preventive health care, and protection from stressors. While some developed nations have recently slowed the increase in child obesity, none has successfully reversed the growing concentration of child obesity among the poor and disadvantaged. This commentary reviews the evidence on patterns and causes of unequal distribution of child obesity in developed nations and analyzes the implications for the development of interventions to reduce these inequalities.

CHILDHOOD obesity; WEIGHT gain; PHYSICAL activity; PREVENTIVE health services; HEALTH policy

Portuguese Journal of Public Health / Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública, 2013, Vol 31, Issue 1, p115

0870-9025

Academic Journal

10.1016/j.rpsp.2012.10.004