site.btaUPDATED 32% of Bulgarian 7-Year-Olds Were Overweight in 2023 - Study

A study shows that 32% of 7-year-olds in Bulgaria were overweight in 2023 and that included obese and severely obese children. Obese children made up 15.2% of all and the severely obese were 4.9%.

The study findings were presented Monday by the Health Ministry and the National Centre for Public Health and Analysis.

20.4% of the overweight children had abdominal obesity.

Bulgaria ranks third among 27 countries with the share of obese children, following only Greece and Malta. 

There were more overweight boys than girls. 

The study is based on a sample of 3,500 children. 

Here is what the study also found:

• One in two children in Bulgaria does not consume fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis, with only 3% taking the recommended five or more servings of fruit and/or vegetables daily;
• One in seven children does not eat breakfast every day;
• One in two consumes sugar-sweetened foods and drinks more than three days a week;
• One in four children eat snacks with high salt content more than three days a week;
• One in three children has more than two hours of screen time every day;
• One in six children sleeps less than nine hours a day.

Experts say less movement, lack of sport or exercise contribute to the problem.

A comparative analysis of data collected over the past 15 years (2008-2023) shows that severe obesity in boys at age 7 is steadily increasing, making it a significant new public health problem. There has been a significant, nearly twofold increase in the relative proportion of first graders with the high-risk abdominal obesity, from 11.9% in 2008 to 20.4% in 2023.

In rural areas, the relative proportion of overweight (includes obese) first graders increased from 21.6% to 31.5%. Children in families where both parents are obese are twice as likely to be overweight, three times as likely to become obese and four times as likely to be severely obese compared to children with no obese parent.

About 80% of parents of overweight children and about 30% of parents of obese children believe that their children's weight is perfectly normal.

The experts say that there is a strong underestimation among parents of the nutritional status of overweight and obese children.

A comparative analysis of data collected by the initiative over the past 15 years (2008-2023) shows that severe obesity in boys at age 7 is steadily increasing, making it a significant new public health problem. There has been a significant, nearly twofold increase in the relative proportion of first graders with abdominal obesity at risk, from 11.9% in 2008 to 20.4% in 2023, the data also show. In rural areas, the relative proportion of overweight (includes obese) first-graders increased from 21.6% to 31.5%. Children from families in which both parents are two times as likely to be overweight, three times as likely to be obese and four times as likely to be severely obese compared to children with no obese parent. About 80% of parents of overweight children and about 30% of parents of obese children believe that their children's weight is perfectly normal.  

Despite the negative trends, there has been a positive change in the consumption of key food groups among children. Daily intake of fresh fruit has increased from 27.4% to 51.9% and of vegetables from 24% to 48.3% over the past 15 years. There has been a decline in the consumption of soft drinks with sugar, salty snacks and confectionery. There has also been a significant improvement in the food and beverage offerings in school campuses, including a decline in the relative proportion of high-energy foods and beverages advertised in school cafeterias.

Experts say, however, that more work is needed. They believe that prevention among children needs to be improved, and that parental awareness needs to be raised. 

Slowly but surely, obesity levels are rising, said  Prof. Dr. Veselka Duleva, a Health Ministry consultant on nutrition and dietetics. Overweight and obesity pose disease risks for children, she stressed. "We are trying to raise awareness with legislative activities, regulations and the work of regional health inspectorates, but this is clearly not enough," she added.

She stressed that it is very important to work with parents before and during pregnancy.

Deputy Health Minister Dobromira Kareva said that obesity is a silent epidemic among children and Bulgaria's participation from 2008 to 2023 in the World Health Organization's childhood obesity surveillance initiative plays an important for assessing the nutritional status of 7-year-olds in this country.