Preventing Childhood Obesity

December 20, 2009 by Taylor Christopher
Filed under Lose Weight

Definition of Childhood Obesity

When a child is in a weight class above the normal for height and age, he or she is considered obese. It is a serious medical condition that affects about 15 percent of children. Nearly 25 million children and teens in the United States are obese or overweight. During the past four decades, obesity rates have soared among all age groups, increasing more than four times among children ages 6 to 11.

Numerous environmental factors have contributed to the increase in childhood obesity, including urban sprawl, availability of junk food, growing portion sizes, lack of safe play areas, and the increasing popularity of television, video games, and computer use.

Overweight children are twice as likely to be obese when they grow up than children who are not overweight. This means that in adulthood, they will be at an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and certain cancers. Depression, along with other psychological disorders occurs with increased frequency in obese children.

Obesity in children must be addressed and studies show that tackling this problem early on can prevent the serious problems associated with it. Overweight children need the support of their families and communities. Health newsletters, walking contests, marathons, healthy food option, community-based programs on health and weight loss can all contribute to a healthier lifestyle for kids.

Lots of Physical Activity

Children with lack of parental limitations on television watching and their parents own television viewing habits, were five to ten times more likely to be overweight. Parents who rely heavily on television viewing as a recreational activity should spend more time doing recreational activities at home or at the park. Because kids by nature are physically active, they find ways to get great exercise even on their own. However, parents should take the time to allow children to spend 8 hours a day running around outside.

One study showed only about a quarter of kids has physical education class at school. You can increase a childs physical activity by encouraging him to walk or ride his bike to school accompanied by an adult. Demonstrate the importance of physical activity by walking or biking with him.

Healthier Eating Habits

Americans eat more snacks, eat on the run, and eat larger portions. The first step in prevention and-or treatment is to help children change their eating behaviors and live healthier lifestyles.

Research suggests that a child with obese parents is ten-times more likely to be obese. This raises the obvious scenario of an obese child environment where there is likely to be ready access to large quantities of energy-dense foods, provided by his or her parents, who also consume such. Parents should take the lead in introducing a healthy diet. It is essential that the whole family should change their eating and living habits. It is not possible that the child alone takes a different type of food while others consume the food forbidden to him.

Even if a parent is faced with a child with a weight problem, a child should never be placed on an extremely restrictive diet or prevent them from eating when hungry. A child needs nutrients and calories to help them develop and grow. Consult a pediatrician if you find that you cannot help your child lose weight with a nutritious eating plan and physical activity.

Emotions also play a major role in childhood obesity, as emotional eating sabotages many weight loss efforts. Children may also have a hard time giving up their junk food snacks. Obese children need not eat less, but learn to eat differently. Help them eat the right foods, in the right combination, at the right times, healthy eating is balanced eating, including varied and nutritionally dense food choices.

Prevention can be looked at as a cure, if it is implemented and if there is effective communication. Environmental and social factors, genetics, illnesses, and medications do not necessarily cause a child to be overweight. Rather, they are risk factors, because they do not guarantee that a child will be obese. The most important thing is to focus on changing things we can control, such as behavior (the old exercise and diet advice).

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