Saudi Gazette An expert forum was held in Cyprus to study the challenges facing children's health in Africa and the Middle East. The main focus of the forum was studying childhood nutritional disorders, the physiological and psychological aspects of nutrition, and implementing strategies to provide children with optimal nutrition. Over 250 Saudi and Arab pediatricians, neonatologists, and other medical and nutrition experts researched a wide range of issues pertaining to adequate childhood nutrition. Unlike children in most African countries who are malnourished and go hungry by the hundreds of thousands, children in Saudi Arabia suffer from a different form of malnutrition. The Kingdom's children suffer from over-nutrition. With a high quality of living and over abundance of food, children here have plenty to eat, but that does not necessarily mean that they are healthy. A child may be overweight but still malnourished. The typical overweight child, due to poor quality foods such as potato chips and doughnuts, may still have iron-deficiency anemia for example. Consultant pediatrician at Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah Dr. Harbi Shaush, who participated in the forum, said, “Our country has witnessed unprecedented changes in the last 40 years which led to a Westernization of our local diet. Fast food chains have spread rapidly. Fast foods have extremely low nutritional quality yet they have become a mainstay of children's diet in the Kingdom. Some children in the Kingdom may even consume these foods daily. The high fat and salt content of these foods make them more desirable to children who like the rich, oily, and salty taste. If we do not take strong action from now to change this pattern of eating, we are going to have a devastating health problem on our hands in the near future.” According to Dr. Ibrahim Alwan Al-Alwan, the Kingdom has witnessed a 50 percent increase in childhood obesity from the year 1976. Children's health problems that have increased in incidence as a direct result of overeating unhealthy fast foods and junk foods include: high blood pressure, high blood lipids, excess body fat, type II diabetes, joint pain, shortness of breath, and emotional problems. One does not expect children to be diagnosed with high blood lipids! But what most people are unaware of is that atherosclerosis occurs in children too. Children and adults can gradually clog their arteries from excessive consumption of high fat, saturated foods. Parents can improve the overall family's nutrition by relying more on home prepared foods, rather than restaurant food. Take small steps to add more fresh, natural fruits and vegetables in your family's diet. __
