The spreading epidemic of childhood obesity both in New Zealand and around the world, fed by inactivity and overindulgence, took a huge chunk out of our children's health in 2004.

The inability to get active and burn off the extra kilograms that carry with them large risks of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, depression and other serious problems was not just confined to New Zealand children. Young waistlines all over the world also expanded in hazardous measure in U.S.A, Western Europe, Canada, Asia Pacific and many other regions.

The rapid growth of overweight young people -- which has reached 177 million globally -- shows the extent of the problem in a world saturated with fat-fueling traps.

In a comprehensive report, presented to the World Health Organization on May 13, 2004, experts warned of the extraordinary increase in childhood obesity and its life-threatening affects, including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and other illnesses once confined to adulthood.

"If childhood obesity continues to increase, the result will be significant morbidity and mortality which will correlate into increased healthcare costs and resource utilisation," Lea Eiland, assistant clinical professor of pharmacy practice at the Auburn University's Harrison School of Pharmacy said.

In the U.S.A a national poll showed that children who put on too much weight were also troubled by at least one related medical condition and missed four times as much school as their slimmer counterparts.

"Obesity can contribute to hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, which results in heart disease," Eiland noted. "Other complications that may be encountered in the pediatric population involve the pulmonary, endocrine and gastrointestinal systems, as well as orthopedic problems."

The global nature of the crisis was brought home in a survey of 9,000 international news items conducted by Echo Research, a media analysis and marketing research firm. It found growing public concern with overweight, a topic whose worldwide media coverage increased four-fold in five years. Great Britain overtook North America, publishing more than 4,000 obesity-related articles -- or one every two days, the survey showed.

The United States Government is calling for immediate action on fighting childhood obesity, given the disturbing rate at which childhood obesity is growing. The epidemic has taken years to develop, and it will require a sustained commitment of effort and resources for many years to effectively address this problem.

Other specialists around the world blame the availability and affordability of heavily advertised, high-calorie, low-nutrition food and drink, addiction to automobiles, resistance to outdoor recreation and explosion in television channels and other sedentary entertainment.

Around the world we have to create healthy communities, to make available healthy food, to have clean water and air, to have schools where children can take physical education and aren't sold soft drinks for lunch, to offer protection from commercial forces that are preying on children through the media.

It is been suggested that the best way to fight childhood obesity is to get active with exercise, decrease our sedentary lifestyle, modify our families diet, ensure parents and family are encouraging and involved, and to have consistent follow-ups with a healthcare provider.

It is important to closely monitor each individual person to ensure that they do not become obsessed with weight loss and develop an eating disorder, which is also a severe health hazard.

"Prevention, through lifestyle and diet modifications, serves as the most integral step in the battle against childhood obesity," Eiland said. "It is extremely important that the entire family/household participate in this life-altering endeavor."

The level of unfit and overweight children has reached epidemic proportions while physical activities such as walking and biking to school have declined drastically.

GetKidsActive is a New Zealand based initiative that stands to fight the obesity epidemic in our country. Below are several suggestions we have to help fight the epidemic that is now becoming evident.

- Parents should stock up on healthy foods, and encourage their children to stay active, set a good example, and restrict TV or computer time to less than two hours a day.

- Schools should schedule a minimum half hour of physical education daily, and have nutritious foods and beverages available.

- Healthcare providers should routinely check body mass, and counsel families on weight, diet and physical activity.

- Community groups, local and national governments should offer expanded opportunities to stay active, such as walking or cycling to school, by improving bike paths, sidewalks and playgrounds.