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Obesity Bubble ChildrenBetween 1981 and 1996, the rate of obesity tripled for boys aged seven to 13, while the rate for girls of similar age doubled, according to the May 2001 Canadian Medical Association Journal. One-third of all Canadian children aged two to 11 were overweight in 1998-1999, according to Statistics Canada. The simple explanation behind the epidemic are those old-fashioned twin sins of gluttony and sloth. But there's another factor: what trend-watchers call the "bubble child." There has been a sharp shift in the role of children in society and their families. As families have evolved into dual-income or single-parent models, more and more families depend on convenience foods. And, as fears about crime and bullies escalate, "bubble children" spend more and more time in front of a computer or television. Families have a habit of grazing instead of sitting down for a family meal, says Robert Glossop, a sociologist with the Vanier Institute of the Family. Children today are less likely to have after-school play, he said. More children are living farther away from school, so they have to take the bus. In some neighbourhoods, children attend different schools, and children belong to different peer groups. Children also have more spending money and play a greater role in family consumer decisions - including the food budget. For next page, click Child Obesity See: Obesity and Weight Loss Short Articles About Obesity and Overweight
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