Yikes – 22 million kids worldwide under the age of five are overweight

December 12, 2013

So according to recent stats, around 22 million children in the world under the age of five years are classified as overweight, and in South Africa, 17.1 percent of kids between the ages of one and nine years living in urban areas are overweight.

By 2050, it is estimated that half of today’s UK children could be obese. Childhood obesity in America has more than tripled in the past 30 years, with an estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents (ages 2 – 19 years) categorised as obese. Numerous studies have confirmed that a child, suffering from obesity between the ages of 10 and 13 years, has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult.

These are staggering figures, and aside from tough times socially and on the playground, being overweight also sets kids up for a range of risks and illnesses.

To help nip the problem in the bud, international brand Ella’s Kitchen is trying to help improve kids’ relationship with food. Paul Lindley, Ella’s dad, set up Ella’s Kitchen brand with the simple aim of helping babies and young children eat healthily. Paul passionately believes that all children should have the opportunity to eat better food and also discover that healthy food can be fun, tasty and cool.

“Food habits, both good and bad, are formed in the earliest years,” explains Paul. “The babies of today are the parents of the future and it is our responsibility to ensure the next generation doesn’t suffer because of poor decisions that we make now.”

Ella’s Kitchen organic baby and toddler food has no refined sugar or salt, no additives or thickeners and nothing artificial. The brand also encourages kids to eat with all their senses, and the range tastes good and the packaging is awesome, making the often difficult consumption of fruit and veg enjoyable, and thereby kicking off good habits.

Ella’s Kitchen is available at Baby City, Toys R Us, Food Lover’s Market and selected Spar Retailers and Baby Boom stores, nationwide.