Overview
- Pediatricians at three major hospitals in the Netherlands say referrals and case severity have risen sharply.
- Waiting lists for specialist care have doubled, with many children referred by general practitioners once weight is causing illness.
- Clinicians report more complications such as type 2 diabetes, and about one third of their patients show early signs of fatty liver disease.
- The doctors call for government action to curb child-targeted food marketing and to invest in prevention and support services.
- They describe an obesogenic environment shaped by social media advertising and fast-food outlets near schools and warn of future pressure on the health system.