Plus-size clothing is now available for toddlers
A British retailer is making headlines after releasing a plus-size clothing range that targets overweight toddlers.
The popular chain store, Next, introduced 47 ‘plus-fit’ pieces described as having a “more generous… for a comfortable fit” for children 3-years and up.
“Our different ‘fits’ cater for children with different size waist and hips, taking into account that children come in all different shapes and sizes,” a Next spokesperson told the Telegraph.
ALSO SEE: A Utah high school is fining students for being late
While the move has been hailed inclusive by some, others fear it might encourage unhealthy living standards. Experts say there’s a bigger problem at play.
“It’s not the retailer’s fault,” Tam Fry, British spokesman for the National Obesity Forum told HuffPost UK.
“The fact is, people as young as three are showing up at stores wanting to be clothed and clothing manufacturers have no alternative but to say: ‘You are a customer, you want to clothe your children, so we will produce a size of clothing that will fit your children’.”
ALSO SEE: Parents reportedly lose custody of their children due to low IQs
While the brand highlights an obesity problem amongst children in the UK, statistics show that Canadians are faced with a similar issue.
In the past decade, Public Health Agency of Canada strategized to combat child obesity, calling a rising rate amongst overweight children and youth a “national crisis“.
“Between 1978/79 and 2004, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity among those aged two to 17 increased from 15 percent to 26 percent,” the government report read.
But according to Health Canada’s most recent stats, obesity rates among children and youth have nearly tripled in the past 30 years.
In a bid to alert parents of potential ongoing problems, the Childhood Obesity Foundation Canada gave this alarming forecast: “Most adolescents do not outgrow [obesity], many continue to gain excess weight. If current trends continue, by 2040, up to 70% of adults aged 40 years will be either overweight or obese.”
For information on childhood obesity and tips for helping your child maintain a healthy weight, visit the Health Canada website.
Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
