UK study shows more and more healthy children are trying to lose weight

• Experts from Oxford University quiz 34,000 children aged 8-17.
• Findings show number of healthy children trying to lose weight has tripled.
• Number of overweight children attempting to lose weight increased four times.

Experts from Oxford University quizzed nearly 34,000 children and asked them whether they were focusing on their weight. 

Findings showed that the number of healthy children who were trying to lose weight had tripled in the last 20 years.

In 1997, when the study began, 5% of children with healthy BMI were choosing to diet. In 2016, that number jumped to 14%.

Meanwhile, the number of overweight children attempting to lose weight increased four times.

The team of researchers said overweight children and obese youngsters trying to shed kilos was a "success".

However, healthy children doing the same raised concerns. 

While available data showed the number of obese children, it did not show how many of those were involved in weight management programmes. To bridge the gap, researchers decided to analyse responses from children aged eight to 17.

Interviews were conducted where the children were asked if they were doing anything about their weight.

Findings were published in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Researchers stressed that supervision was important. 

The team said: "More research is required to understand drivers of weight loss attempts among young people with a healthy weight."