A nutritionist has called on parents to encourage their children and wards to give priority attention to physical exercise.

The call became imperative following the growing spate of obesity among the children which may not be unconnected with sugary foods consumed indiscriminately by children in recent time.

Hajiya Jummai Hassan, a nutritionist at the Wuse General Hospital has said on Sunday that regular physical exercise is just the only way to check the rising prevalence of obesity among children.

According to her, “we have lots of junk foods here in Nigeria and our children consume them a lot but what we can do to prevent obesity is by encouraging exercise.”

The nutritionist, who advised that physical exercise could help to reduce health risk and help weight management, said families could take their children and wards for a walk in the evenings and weekends as well as swimming and cycling which could be all fun and interesting.

Hajiya Hassan pointed out that the children would prefer to sit and play games, watch movies and eat all the junk foods and drinks available. Hence she maintained, “it is important that we as parents have to encourage them to be physically active in that way, in spite of their intake of junks or eating so much food, they will be healthy and obesity could be prevented.”

The rising prevalence of obesity in children and its attendant adverse health implications, no doubt, should be viewed as a serious public health concern, that must not be treated with levity.

The time to act is now!