The latest study reveals alarming rates of childhood obesity in the Canary Islands, making it the second-highest region in Spain with concerns particularly high for the younger population.
According to the study conducted by the National Centre for Epidemiology and the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition, the regions of Extremadura (24%), the Canary Islands (22.6%), Galicia (22.5%), and Andalusia (21.7%) have the highest prevalence of obesity, while Madrid (14.6%), Castilla y León (15.7%), and Navarra (15.8%) report the lowest rates.
The data reveals that one in every five under 16s in the Canary Islands is obese, raising concerns about the health of the younger generation. This places the archipelago as the fifth region with the highest number of children suffering from obesity.
The study indicates that provinces with a higher percentage of the population affected by obesity are predominantly located in the southern half of the country.
Gender Disparities and Regional Variances
Breaking down the data by gender, the prevalence of obesity varies between 24.9% in Extremadura and 15.4% in Ceuta for men, and between 23.2% in Extremadura and 13.1% in Madrid for women.
In the case of the Canary Islands, the figures stand at 22.5% for men and 22.6% for women. Similar to the trends observed in the child population, excess weight and obesity in adults are more common among individuals and population groups with lower education levels or residing in smaller municipalities with lower income levels.
Canary Islands Leading in Obesity Prevalence
The study highlights that the autonomous communities with the highest prevalence of obesity are situated in the southern and southeastern regions of the country, including the Canary Islands.
Among the regions with the highest rates of childhood obesity are Melilla (19.3%), Ceuta (18.4%), Andalusia (14.1%), the Valencian Community (14.1%), the Canaries (13.8%), and Castilla-La Mancha (11.7%).
Notably, in most regions, there are nearly twice as many obese boys as girls. Specifically, in the case of minors with obesity in the Canary Islands, 17.9% are boys and 9.9% are girls. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and public health campaigns to address this growing health concern in the region.
