Affluent most likely to have obese families

CONTRARY to popular opinion, a study reveals that affluent families are most likely to have obese children.

However, according to the Irish Institute for Nutrition and Health (IINH), the economic downturn could see a return to healthy eating.

“Denial around children’s overweight or obesity is still common,” said IINH founder and director Richard Burton.

“Most of us know by now that classic junk foods and meals usually contain lots of energy but little else of nutritional value.

“What people of every social class often fail to realise, however, is that convenience meals of all types, whether bought in or eaten outside the home, tend to be overloaded with calories.

“Hopefully, the downturn will encourage parents to cook wholesome meals from scratch at home more often, as this really helps to cut costs as well as calories.”

According to the study conducted by the Department of Health in Britain, affluent families tend to have the most obese and unhealthy children.

The research identified six different types of family, defined by their health and way of life. Every family is being categorised and the research will be used to direct a government drive to reduce growing levels of obesity, particularly among children.

No such extensive research has been carried out in Ireland, but a conference last September heard that Ireland is on the cusp of an obesity crisis.

Speaking at the Positive Approaches to Obesity conference in Croke Park organised by the Nutrition and Health Foundation, American nutrition expert Professor Sylvia Rowe described it as a “coming crisis”.

“Based on your statistics, you are just on the cusp of a public health issue that’s really escalating. It will not get better if it’s left unattended,” she said.

Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Wallace said tackling obesity among Irish children is a priority.

In Britain, meanwhile, officials are mapping where the unhealthiest families live. According to the British department of health report, the “treaters” are families that “are proud of having bettered themselves”.

“Dad is likely to work in middle management; mum may have a part-time job to earn money for luxuries,” the study says. “Their children’s educational attainment and material possessions are key priorities.”

They are “relatively affluent” and typically belong to social class C1. Researchers found that they are well informed about healthy eating, but unaware that their eating habits may be jeopardising their health.

Almost a quarter of children in these households are obese, as they tend to snack regularly.

“Although the whole household is likely to be overweight, parents don’t recognise the problem. They are often in denial about the healthiness of their children’s diet and their true activity levels,” the research reveals.

Only one group, the Role Models, is deemed to have a healthy lifestyle. They tend to be large families in the top social group who eat organic food.

Fat file

* Overworked: With not enough time, money or knowledge to stick to a healthy way of life, they watch a lot of TV and eat junk food.

* Novices: They had children at a young age and don’t have the skills to keep their family fit and healthy, giving in to children’s demands for fatty foods.

* The Treaters: These are newly affluent, overweight families in denial about how much they eat. Parents are unlikely to heed warnings about poor diets.

* The Role Models: These are healthy eaters who steer clear of additives and prefer to eat organic food.

* The Traditionalists: These parents believe children should eat what they’re given. Although their diets are better than most, exercise does not figure highly in their daily lives.