Alarming Gap Between Rich And Poor Post Danger To Children’s Health, Say Experts [VIDEO]

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The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has urged the UK Government to implement a public health policy. A comprehensive policy should promote the health of adults and children alike and cut the smoking and alcohol consumption in the country.

As per Belfast Telegraph, Neena Modi, the president of the RCPCH has said that the health of infants, children, and young people has improved considerably over the past 30 years but more needs to be done to improve the nutrition and health. The institution has created a picture of health and nutrition among all ages and class in the country, ranging from obesity to malnutrition and asthma to child deaths.

She pointed that "It is tragic that the future health and happiness of a significant and growing number is in jeopardy because of an alarming gap between rich and poor." She found that children from deprived backgrounds are more likely to be inflicted with poor health or obesity, poorly manage their health, leading to diabetes, asthma and other diseases, and die prematurely.

The State for Child Health reports state that one in every five children are affected by malnutrition and deprived health conditions compared to affluent families.The report cites that in 2015-16, 40 percent of the children living in deprived areas are obese compared to 27 percent in affluent areas.

The report suggests that the following measures would curtail the ill health among youth. Ban on advertising of fatty, sugary, salty foods and e-cigarettes on prime time. Increased awareness of breastfeeding among women, limitation on pricing on alcohol and ban on smoking in public places would help a lot.

As per Daily Mail, Professor Russell Viner, RCPCH's health promotion officer said the institute wanted to implement a comprehensive child health policy. He intends to see UK children as the best-grown children in the world and anything less than that would be a failure on their part. The alarming rates of obesity among children are directly pointing fingers to the rising gap between the rich and the poor.