Child obesity rates concern officials

The Paediatric Association of Jamaica (PAJ) and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica are leading a broad-based initiative to tackle the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among the country’s children.

The initiative, dubbed ‘Weight A Bit: Turning the Tide on Childhood Obesity in Jamaica’, will be officially launched on September 30 as part of activities to mark World Obesity Month, which is observed in September. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on September 17, PAJ President Dr Ludrick Morris said the initiative has become increasingly urgent based on findings from the latest school-based health survey, which shows a significant increase in overweight and obesity among children aged 13 to 17 years. According to the survey, 31.7 per cent of children in this age group meet the criteria for being overweight, while 15 per cent are obese. This compares with 23.7 per cent who were overweight and 9.2 per cent who were obese in 2017.

“As you look at that trajectory, it is clear that the actions are needed urgently to prevent overweight and obesity in children and to manage those who are already overweight and obese,” Morris said. He said the urgency is underscored by the health and psychosocial risks associated with childhood overweight and obesity.

“We know that overweight and obesity confer significant health risks,” he said, pointing to conditions such as hypertension, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, orthopaedic and visual problems.

Morris added that children may also experience psychosocial challenges, including bullying in schools, while those who are obese during childhood are more likely to remain obese as adults. Against this background, the initiative will bring together stakeholders across multiple sectors to address the issue. Morris said the initiative will focus on strengthening the implementation of existing policies rather than creating new ones.

“We are not trying to reinvent the wheel. There are some excellent policies that can have far-reaching effect in reducing the incidence or prevalence of overweight and obesity, for which we want to see full implementation,” the president said. Among these, he explained, is the Infant and Young Child Feeding Policy, which addresses feeding during the first 1,000 days of life. Another key measure identified by Morris is the School Nutrition Policy, approved in 2025, which addresses the nutrition environment in schools, physical activity and behaviours surrounding nutrition.