Russian health minister: 480,000 school students in Russia are obese

MOSCOW. June 11 (Interfax) - A total of 480,000 school students are now obese in Russia, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Wednesday.

"The 60% increase in the obesity rate among children [data for 2024 - increase in obesity by the moment of graduation from high school in relation to the sickness rate among primary school students], which, besides nutrition, is connected to sedentary lifestyle and absence of interest in physical culture and sports in many children, causes alarm," Murashko said at a government-hour meeting in the State Duma.

"According to statistics, it's now 480,000 school students," he said.

According to the minister's presentation, which contained data for 2024, 1.67% of all children aged 7-10 are obese. This percentage is 2.79% among school students aged 11-14 and 2.82% among school students aged 15-17.

According to earlier reports, the total obesity rate among children younger than 14 has increased by more than 36% since 2018. It followed from a presentation given by Murashko in the Rogachev National Medical Research Center for Children's Hematology, Oncology and Immunology.

The total obesity rate among children aged 15-17 has increased by 9.2% since 2018, the minister said in his presentation.

Murashko earlier said 40% of Russia's population were overweight, which leads to various illnesses and dyshormonal disorders.