Childhood obesity has
become one of the most serious public health challenges which we are facing in
21st century. The
problem is globally affecting many low and middle-income countries,
particularly in urban settings. It is a complex health issue which occurs
when a child is well above the normal or healthy weight for his or her age and height.
What Causes Obesity in
Children?
There are variety of
reasons for the children who are suffering from obese and overweight. Among
them the most common causes are, unhealthy eating patterns, lack of physical
activity, genetic factors, or a combination of these factors. Only in rare
cases it is being overweight and caused by a medical condition such as a
hormonal problem.
Health Risks Associated
with Childhood Obesity
·
Heart Disease
·
Joint Pain
·
Asthma
·
Sleep Disorders
·
Diabetes
Encourage healthy eating by,
Making sure your child eats
breakfast every day
·
Buying
fewer soft drinks and high-fat, high-calorie snack foods
·
Eating
fast food less often
·
Not
using food as a reward
·
Serving
more fruits and vegetables
Additional recommendations for kids of all ages:
Birth to age 1: Besides
its many health benefits, breastfeeding may
help prevent excessive weight gain.
Age from 1 to 5: Start
good habits early. Help shape food preferences by offering a variety of healthy
foods. Encourage your kids to be active and help them build on developing
skills.
Ages 6 to 12: Encourage
kids to be physically active every day, whether through an organized sports
team or a pick-up game of soccer during recess. Make your kids be active at
home with everyday activities like playing outside or going for a family walk.
Let them be more involved in making good food choices, such as packing lunch.
Ages 13 to 18: Teach
teens how to prepare healthy meals and snacks at home. Encourage them to be
healthy choices when outside the home and to be active every day.
All ages: Cut
down on TV, phone, computer, and video game time and discourage eating in front
of a screen (TV or otherwise). Serve a variety of healthy foods and eat family meals together as often as
possible. Serve them breakfast every
day, have at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and limit
sugar-sweetened beverages.
Talk
to kids about the importance of eating well and being active. Be a role model
by eating well, exercising regularly, and building healthy habits into your own
daily life.
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