Girls as young as five are showing signs of obesity, according to researchers in Al Ain who are pressing schools and parents to improve the habits of young people.

Their findings point to more cases of obesity, which requires urgent action. The alarm was sounded when 900 female school children, between five and 14, were examined in Al Ain by a research team from UAE University. One in six were found to be obese.

Obesity is "an increasing public health problem" for female schoolchildren in the city, said Dr Abdul Hamid Kerkadi, a scientist who worked on the project along with Dr Nassar Abu Al Naqa and Dr Wissam Ebrahim from UAE University's department of nutrition and health.

"We have examined the prevalence of excessive weight, obesity and associated behavioural factors, including food habits, physical activity and the amount of time watching television as well as the height and weight of the students," he said.

The results indicated that 11.1 per cent were overweight and 15.8 per cent were obese. Nearly two thirds of girls consumed chips and chocolate every day while only 27.8 per cent eat vegetables every day and only 32.2 per cent eat fruits every day.

Dr Kerkadi said a number of activities are closely linked to obesity, including parents' obesity, watching more than two hours of television per day, the amount of pocket money children are given and the amount of physical activity.

The primary goal should be to prevent overweight or obese children from becoming obese adults, he said.

The study said the condition is one of the reasons for increasing death rate.

"It occurs during one of the four stages: infancy, early childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Obesity among children is a concern because it may have long-term health consequences," the researchers said.

Obesity is much higher with the native Gulf populations because countries in the region have moved towards the high-fat and high-carbohydrate diet.