肥胖兒童扎堆歐洲 相關健康問題令人擔憂

One in three children in Europe between the ages of six and nine are either overweight or obese, according to a report commissioned by United European Gastroenterology .

近日，由歐洲腸胃病學聯合組織委託進行的一份報告顯示，在歐洲6歲至9歲的兒童中，1/3的孩子超重或肥胖。

The report, which is based on data from 46 countries in the European region, warns that by 2025 the number of under-fives worldwide who are overweight will have risen from an estimated 41m now to 70m.

該報告基於歐洲地區46個國家的數據。報告警告稱，到2025年，全球5歲以下的超重兒童人數將從現在估算的4100萬增至7000萬。

The researchers recorded a worrying trend in digestive health problems among children, noting that the onset of inflammatory bowel disease begins in childhood for 20-30 percent of all inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cases.

研究人員發現了一個關於兒童消化健康問題的令人擔憂的趨勢，他們指出。如今20%到30%的炎症性腸道疾病在兒童階段就會發病。

They also report that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now the most common cause of chronic liver disease among children and adolescents in Western countries. Alarmingly, the disease has been diagnosed in children as young as three.

研究人員還指出，非酒精性脂肪肝已成爲西方國家兒童和青少年羣體中單一最常見的慢性肝病誘因。曾有年僅3歲的孩子被診斷出患有該病。

The report also warns of the financial burden of obesity and related disorders on public healthcare systems across Europe, given related treatments now represent 10 percent of total healthcare costs throughout the continent.

該報告還警告稱，肥胖和相關疾病已經給歐洲公共醫療保健系統帶來了財政負擔，治療費用如今佔到了全歐洲公共衛生總支出的十分之一。

President of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Professor Berthold Koletzko says Europe's priorities need to change quickly.

歐洲兒童胃腸營養學協會負責人貝特霍爾德·科萊採科教授表示，歐洲的關注重點需要馬上轉變。

"In spite of 20 percent of the European population being children and the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases increasing, it is extremely worrying that only one out of 58 topics currently receiving EU research funding is focused on paediatric health," he commented.

他說：“儘管歐洲人口的20%是兒童。而且胃腸道疾病的發病率正在增加，但是特別令人擔憂的是，在目前接受歐盟研究基金資助的58個課題中，僅有一個專注於兒童健康。”