Paediatric Association and Heart Foundation to Launch Initiative to Tackle Childhood Obesity

The Paediatric Association of Jamaica (PAJ) and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica are leading a broad-based initiative to tackle the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among the country’s children.

The initiative, dubbed ‘Weight A Bit: Turning the Tide on Childhood Obesity in Jamaica’, will be officially launched on September 30 as part of activities to mark World Obesity Month, which is observed in September.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on September 17, President of the PAJ, Dr. Ludrick Morris, said the initiative has become increasingly urgent based on findings from the latest school-based health survey, which shows a significant increase in overweight and obesity among children aged 13 to 17 years.

According to the survey, 31.7 per cent of children in this age group meet the criteria for being overweight, while 15 per cent are obese. This compares with 23.7 per cent who were overweight and 9.2 per cent who were obese in 2017. Dr. Morris said the trend requires urgent action and the provision of appropriate management for children already affected.

“As you look at that trajectory, it is clear that the actions are needed urgently to prevent overweight and obesity in children and to manage those who are already overweight and obese,” he said.

The President said the urgency is underscored by the health and psychosocial risks associated with childhood overweight and obesity.

“We know that overweight and obesity confer significant health risks,” he said, pointing to conditions such as hypertension, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, orthopaedic and visual problems.

Dr. Morris added that children may also experience psychosocial challenges, including bullying in schools, while those who are obese during childhood are more likely to remain obese as adults. Against this background, the ‘Weight A Bit’ initiative will bring together stakeholders across multiple sectors to address the issue.

The President described it as “a broad-based coalition that seeks involvement or engagement across multiple sectors,” including education, health, early childhood, nutrition, physical activity, academia and the community.

He explained that the initiative will also engage responsible private-sector partners, noting that wherever children “sleep, play, eat, grow, then there is a role for those persons involved”.

Dr. Morris said the initiative will focus on strengthening the implementation of existing policies rather than creating new ones. “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel. There are some excellent policies that can have far-reaching effect in reducing the incidence or prevalence of overweight and obesity, for which we want to see full implementation,” the President said.

Among these, he explained, is the Infant and Young Child Feeding Policy, which addresses feeding during the first 1,000 days of life. This also includes the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, which promotes and supports breastfeeding and seeks to ensure that facilities where children are born provide an environment that is supportive of breastfeeding. Another key measure identified by Dr. Morris is the School Nutrition Policy, approved in 2025, which addresses the nutrition environment in schools, physical activity and behaviours surrounding nutrition.

The President highlighted that the partners also want to see full implementation of Ministry of Health and Wellness policies addressing physical activity and the prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases throughout the life course.