Impact of Nutrition Education on Nutrition Knowledge of the Parents of Obese Children

Abstract

Obesity has emerged as an epidemic in developed and developing countries during the last quarter of the 20th century affecting high and middle income people. The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing during the last three decades and it accounts for nearly 30 per cent of all adult obesity. The risk of obesity is two to three times greater for an individual with a family history of obesity and increases further with severe obesity. In addition infants born to overweight mothers have been found to be less active and gain more weight by age three months when compared to infants of normal weight mothers, suggesting a possible inborn drive to conserve energy.