Summary
In South Africa, a school is promoting healthy eating to combat childhood obesity by serving mainly vegetarian meals. The rise in obesity among children globally is partly due to increased fast food consumption. Campaigners want more regulations on fast food advertising to young people.
Key Facts
- Kairos School in South Africa introduced mainly vegetarian meals to fight childhood obesity.
- The UN reports that the number of overweight children has increased significantly in the past two decades.
- Children aged five to nine worldwide have seen their numbers rise from 69 million to 147 million.
- A trainee lawyer shared her personal experience, highlighting how fast food affected her health.
- South Africa's fast food market was valued at $2.7 billion in 2018 and is expected to rise to $4.9 billion by 2026.
- Unicef suggests that the government should limit fast food advertising targeting children.
- Obesity is more common in middle-income countries where more people can afford fast food restaurants.
