Oct

5

South Korea pays for gyms for obese children - Tehran Times- Topic: Childhood Obesity News

Filed Under Childhood Obesity News | Leave a Comment

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea plans to help obese children pay for health club membership and other activities that can help them lose weight, an official said. Health ministry official Chun Myung-sook said the rate of childhood obesity had tripled over the past three years due to a changing diet higher in fatty foods and a more sedentary lifestyle. Under the government plan, elementary school students whose body mass index indicates obesity will be able to receive up to 40,000 won (19 pounds) a month to help them bring their weight down. Costs to the government and the economy related to childhood obesity were 2 trillion won in 2006, the ministry said, making the voucher program cost effective. Read Childhood Obesity

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