Okay, he’s not Indonesian, but Lu Hao from China is known as the posterchild of the “Fat Asian Kid” meme
Jakarta has a new claim to fame – our kids are fatter than any other children in Indonesia.
In a study done by Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), Jakarta is the province with the highest rates of childhood obesity in the country, with about 19.6 percent of our kids coming in at the heavy end of the weight scale.
“The study by RSCM, showed that 27 percent of children in a school in East Jakarta are obese. This figure is increasing so be wary,” pediatrician Sudung O. Pardede told CNN Indonesia.
But it’s not just Jakarta. Indonesia as a country has a significant childhood obesity problem. According to data from the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) World Children Report 2012, Indonesia ranks second in ASEAN for childhood obesity after Singapore, with 12.2 percent of our children judged overweight versus 19 percent for Singapore.
Those figures are far above other countries in the region, such as Thailand (8 percent), Malaysia (6 percent) and Vietnam (4.6 percent).
“In ASEAN, we have the highest rate besides Singapore. It indicates we are prosperous but also that education about balanced nutrition is lacking,” Dr. Sudung said.
Childhood obesity is no laughing matter, as it can lead to greatly increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
“The risks a child suffers from being overweight are even higher than those an adult faces. Because children that are overweight tend to remain overweight into adulthood,” Dr. Sudung said.
One big problem, Sudung said, is that adults in Indonesia often perceive overweight children as being healthy for eating so much. The pediatrician said more parents need to learn the importance of exercise and activity in their children’s health.
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