A few days ago, the results of the ALADINO study (Food, Physical Activity, Child Development and Obesity) prepared by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 of Spain, with the AESAN agency (Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition) were published.
The ALADINO study began in 2011 as part of the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI), promoted by the European office of the WHO (World Health Organization), within the framework of a strategy to curb obesity. Its objective is to know the prevalence of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren between 6 and 9 years old, analyze the evolution of the indicators and how these are associated with socioeconomic factors linked to the school and family environment.
This year, the data has dropped 4.5 points compared to 2019, when the obesity rate was 40.6%. In 2023 it has decreased to 36.1%. In detail, a 3.1% reduction in overweight and 1.4% in obesity has been achieved among boys and girls aged 6 to 9 years. However, in the most vulnerable environments, the rate has barely changed, and families with incomes of less than €18,000 gross per year are the most affected.
The reality is that the rate of overweight and obesity in this age group is double in lower-income families (23.6%), compared to families with higher incomes (10.9%).
Girls and boys from families with fewer economic resources participate two hours less in extracurricular activities (64.2%) compared to schoolchildren from wealthier families (88.1%). This also translates into a greater sedentary lifestyle, since children from less advantaged homes tend to spend more time in front of screens. 30% of children in these families are exposed to more than two hours of screen time per day, while in lower-income families this figure rises to 41%.
Staple foods have experienced a constant rise, with a 21% increase in the shopping basket between 2023 and 2024. Basic products such as olive oil have increased by up to 70%. According to the OCU, this is the largest increase in 34 years, also affecting products such as dairy products, pasta, chicken and rice. It is enough to walk through the market to notice that the prices of fruits and vegetables are out of reach for many families. According to the ALADINO study, only 45.3% of children in unfavorable economic situations consume a fruit daily, and the consumption of vegetables falls by half, with only 23.8% eating them daily. Girls and boys should consume at least two servings of vegetables and fruits a day, something that seems unattainable for many less fortunate families.
Another worrying point that the study highlights is breakfast. In families with fewer resources, many schoolchildren only have one drink before going to school.
According to a study published by the Red Cross in June 2024, in collaboration with the Carlos III University, only 32% of families prepare meals with fresh foods daily, and 80.5% prioritize less nutritious, but cheaper foods. .
The choice of foods of lower nutritional quality is not so much due to ignorance, but rather to the need to stretch resources to feed the family for more days. Unfortunately, this situation is becoming more common. It is not that families do not want to give their daughters and sons a healthier diet, but that, economically, they cannot afford it.
Food insecurity affects 6 million people (13.3% of the population), with women being the most affected, as they usually deprive themselves of food in favor of their families. The FAO defines food insecurity as the situation in which a person lacks regular access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to lead an active and healthy life. This may be due to lack of resources.
It is not surprising, because Spanish workers earn six euros less per hour worked than the European average, despite the recent approval of the increase in the SMI (Interprofessional Minimum Wage). Housing costs represent between 40% and 60% of salary, leaving little for other expenses, which often go to paying for supplies. What remains, if anything remains, is to live on, or rather, to survive.
It is evident that socioeconomic conditions are crucial to ensure complete nutrition and adequate development in the little ones. Unfortunately, the statement is still true: “The zip code influences health more than the genetic code.”
It is essential that public policies focus on promoting healthy eating habits, away from the focus pesocentristand that access to nutritious food is guaranteed to all families, regardless of their economic situation.
Fighting food insecurity so that it stops affecting the most vulnerable, girls and boys, is not only a matter of public health, but also of social justice.
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