Child Helmet Laws: The principal threats to child
health and life expectancy
The principal threats to children's lives at the beginning of the 21st
century are obesity, heart disease and other illnesses resulting in large part
from inactivity. Cycling has a key role to play in preventing these illnesses.
Less cycling through a helmet law would aggravate an already very serious
situation.
- In the UK, 16% of 6 to 15 year old children were obese in 2001 - up from 5%
in 1990 [1]. This amounts to over 1.2 million children
[2].
- 9% of 2 to 4 year old UK children were already obese in 1998 - up from 5%
in 1989 [1]. This amounts to over 300,000 children
[2].
- Predictions suggest that 1/5th of boys and 1/3rd of girls (3 million
children in UK) will be obese by the year 2020 [1].
- Being overweight restricts body activity, damages health and shortens life;
and it harms self-esteem and social life. Heart disease, stroke, joint problems
and the commonest form of diabetes (Type 2) are direct effects of obesity and
overweight. People of every age, every region and from all population groups are
affected. Overweight and obesity also result in a huge financial burden for
government, the NHS and society as a whole - the National Audit Office estimates
costs to the NHS of at least £0.5 billion a year, and £2 billion to
the wider economy. Doctors and public health specialists are so concerned about
the medical problems being stored up by overweight and obese people that they
are campaigning Government for fundamental changes to life styles [1].
- Obesity shortens lives by an average of 9 years [3].
- In the UK, 157,000 people die of heart disease each year, over one-third
due to inactivity [5]. Children as young as six now have the
early signs of heart disease [4].
References
[1] Storing up problems - The medical case for a slimmer nation. Royal College of Physicians.
[2] Population data from Office for National Statistics.
[3] House of Commons Public Accounts Committee Report,
January 2002.
[4] University of Western Australia, March 2004. (Reported
ABC On-Line 4th March 2004).
[5] Office for National Statistics.
