A United European Gastroenterology report, titled "Pediatric Digestive Health Across Europe," highlights the negative state of digestive health in European children.
Here are four points:
1. One in every three children aged six to nine years in 46 European countries is now overweight or obese.
2. Childhood onset of inflammatory bowel disease is found in 20 percent to 30 percent of all IBD cases.
3. In Western countries, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of chronic liver disease among children and adolescents.
4. The report outlines a six point action plan that includes:
- National strategy and public health campaign development
- Improve training standards through digestive health syllabus
- Enhance pediatric training
- Develop teenage to adult transition services
- Encourage further research on childhood digestive diseases
- Pediatric digestive disease centers development