REPORTER:  

Sizzling fried chicken, bag after bag of chips, and all kinds of savory and sweet convenience store treats may be a naughty treat for adults, but for children and adolescents, it's proving a major health risk.

In a new report, one local NGO says that over 30 percent of children in Taiwan are overweight or obese. That's at least ten percent more than the UN’s global average.

Wu Cheng (ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT):  

My classmates would treat us to candy  

on their birthdays  

and they would buy stuff at the  

school’s convenience store  

such as cookies and soda.

REPORTER:  

Many children cannot resist snacking, and their parents struggle to keep their kids’ hands out of the cookie jar.

Mrs. Lin (MOTHER):  

Some parents give their kids supplements to improve their diet, but nutritionists warn that overusing them can cause problems.

Kao Min-min (NUTRITIONIST):  

More nutritional supplements are not better.  

Due to their young age  

children’s livers and kidneys  

are not fully developed.  

Their metabolism is nowhere near an adult’s.  

If parents feed them  

supplements above the safe dosage  

It will certainly be detrimental or even backfire.

REPORTER:  

Nutritionists worry over reliance on supplements and irregular eating habits are taking a toll on children’s health.

They say a healthy, balanced diet is the best medicine.

Andy Hsueh and Irene Lin for TaiwanPlus.