Unhealthy diets driving diabetes in children —Dietician
A dietician, Pearl Salormey, has raised concern over the growing incidence of Type 2 diabetes among children, warning that a condition once largely associated with adults is increasingly being diagnosed in youngsters, particularly those who are obese.
Dietician Pearl Salormey has expressed alarm over the rising number of young children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a condition typically linked to adulthood. Speaking to The Mirror in Accra, Ms Salormey, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND), highlighted that Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by lifestyle factors rather than genetics.
She noted a concerning increase in such cases among children as young as 11 years old, attributing the trend to the unhealthy food environment prevalent in Ghana. This environment, characterized by easy access to energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and sugary beverages, has led to a rise in childhood obesity, significantly increasing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
Ms Salormey emphasized that while genetics may play a role in some cases, lifestyle and environmental factors are the primary drivers of the condition. She called for stricter government regulation of children's diets, urging schools and parents to promote healthier eating habits. This includes implementing nutrition-friendly policies in schools, limiting children's access to sugary drinks and processed foods, and encouraging regular physical activity.
Ms Salormey also recommended making nutritious, balanced meals a cornerstone of children's diets, incorporating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting consumption of sugary snacks, fried foods, and processed meats. She advised families to replace refined carbohydrates with whole-grain options and encourage the regular consumption of affordable, nutritious plant-based proteins.
By making small but consistent improvements in children's eating habits and promoting regular physical activity, Ms Salormey believes that the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and other diet-related diseases can be significantly reduced, setting the stage for healthier lives into adulthood.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
