LACK OF PARENTAL CONTROL CAUSES OBESITY - NGOs

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Lack of parental control in what
children eat causes children to become obese, according to several
non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Parent Action Group for Education president Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
said besides ensuring good eating habits among children at home, parents should
also monitor their children's nutrition after school.

"Parents should come early to school to fetch their children to enable them
to monitor the food purchased by their children, particularly after school," she
told Bernama.

National Parent-Teacher Association Collaborative Council president
Associate Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Ali Hassan said parents should limit visits to
fast food restaurants among their children.

He said besides prohibiting junk food sales outside schools, school bus and
van operators should also be barred from selling junk food to students, who ride
in their vehicles.

Nutrition Society of Malaysia president Dr Tee E Siong said parents should
be equipped with knowledge on nutrition, especially balanced diet to enable them
to guide their children on healthy food.