Ministry of Education officials yesterday met with principals from over 200 elementary and junior high schools to promote a weight-control program for school children, as surveys over a 16-year period have shown a trend of children growing fatter.
According to a survey conducted by the ministry, while elementary and secondary school students were generally heavier and taller in 1997 than those in 1981, the youngsters tended to put on more weight when they grew taller.
For example, grade-one boys registered an average height of 122.1cm and an average weight of 24.9kg in 1997, 1.34cm taller and 2.63kg heavier than boys of the same age in 1981.
Boys in the first year of junior high school were 157.5cm tall and weighed 50.1kg in 1997, up 4.09cm and 7.37kg compared with boys of the same age in 1981.
For students in the first year of senior high school, boys were 169.9cm tall and weighed 61.5kg in 1997, up 2.59cm and 5.43kg compared with boys of the same age in 1981.
"The problem has appeared because today's children tend to eat a lot but do very little exercise," said Wu Jen-yee (
Wu noted that surveys have found that between 15 and 20 percent of elementary and secondary students have an obesity problem, which may cause illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke and heart diseases.
To protect the health of schoolchildren, the ministry plans to have teachers give weigh-control instruction in elementary and junior high schools, Wu said.
Hsu Hui-yu (
"If children are allowed to eat as much as they like, the program will be a failure," Hsu said.
Lin Wei (
While none of the three meals should be skipped every day, the food can be served in small portions, Lin said, adding that changing the order of food in-intake can also help.
For example, have soup before other food, and meat and rice come last; eat lean meat without the skin; and eat fresh fruits instead of drinking fruit juice.
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