Number of obese kids decreases among all ages of 5-to-17 group (JAPAN)

[FarCenter]

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The number of obese children decreased among all ages of the 5-to-17-year-old range, according to an annual survey by the education ministry.

It was the first time the number of such children has decreased among all groups in that age range since the ministry began conducting the survey on school health in 1977, the ministry said.

According to the Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology Ministry, the decline in obese children is a trend of recent years. Meanwhile, the number of thin children is increasing, the ministry said.

A ministry official said, "The trend is likely due to increased knowledge of proper dietary habits and more children who are conscious of their bodily appearance."

The ministry surveyed 700,000 children from April to June.

The proportion of children exceeding the standard weight by 20 percent or more was 10.32 percent among 15-year-olds, a drop of 1.22 percentage point from the previous year--the largest drop among all ages. The proportion of overweight children was 9.69 percent among 11-year-olds and 9.54 percent among 10-year-olds, down 0.76 point and 0.85 point, respectively.

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