What is obesity in children?
The definition of childhood obesity is weight above the normal for height and age. Childhood obesity is becoming the biggest epidemic for kids and teens in the world. Approximately 25 million children between the ages of 2-19 in the United States are at risk of becoming overweight or are overweight. Obesity rates have soared among all age groups in the last four decades, increasing more than four times among children ages 6 to 11.
Behavioral factors such as artificial feeding (bottle feeding), urban sprawl, dietary fat intake, sweetened drink intake, family eating patterns, growing portion sizes, levels of physical inactivity, computer use, video and television viewing have been identified as major contributing factors for childhood obesity.
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.
Kids do not want to be fat, but oftentimes, they do not know how to carry on the best lifestyle possible. It is essential that the whole family should change their eating and living habits. Here are some tips:
Increase 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.
Kids do not walk to school because of fear that something untoward, unpredictable, and dangerous will occur to them. Encouraging them to walk or ride their bikes to school accompanied an adult. You can demonstrate the importance of physical activity by walking or biking with your child.
Healthier Eating Habits
Much of what we eat is quick and easy - from fat-laden fast food to microwave and prepackaged meals. Daily schedules are so jam-packed that there is little time to prepare healthier meals or to squeeze in some exercise. However, preventing and treating childhood obesity should involve the whole family. After all, one of the first ways children learn is by imitating.
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.
A child should not go on an extremely restricted diet, nor prevented from eating when he is hungry. Children need nutrients and calories to help them develop and grow. If you find that you cannot help your child lose weight with a nutritious eating plan and physical activity, consult a physician or dietician.
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 is therefore, key in preparing our children for a healthy adolescence and adulthood. Environment, behavior and genetics all play a role in childhood obesity; the most important thing is to focus on changing those things we can control, like behavior. That is right - the old diet and exercise advice.
The definition of childhood obesity is weight above the normal for height and age. Childhood obesity is becoming the biggest epidemic for kids and teens in the world. Approximately 25 million children between the ages of 2-19 in the United States are at risk of becoming overweight or are overweight. Obesity rates have soared among all age groups in the last four decades, increasing more than four times among children ages 6 to 11.
Behavioral factors such as artificial feeding (bottle feeding), urban sprawl, dietary fat intake, sweetened drink intake, family eating patterns, growing portion sizes, levels of physical inactivity, computer use, video and television viewing have been identified as major contributing factors for childhood obesity.
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.
Kids do not want to be fat, but oftentimes, they do not know how to carry on the best lifestyle possible. It is essential that the whole family should change their eating and living habits. Here are some tips:
Increase 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.
Kids do not walk to school because of fear that something untoward, unpredictable, and dangerous will occur to them. Encouraging them to walk or ride their bikes to school accompanied an adult. You can demonstrate the importance of physical activity by walking or biking with your child.
Healthier Eating Habits
Much of what we eat is quick and easy - from fat-laden fast food to microwave and prepackaged meals. Daily schedules are so jam-packed that there is little time to prepare healthier meals or to squeeze in some exercise. However, preventing and treating childhood obesity should involve the whole family. After all, one of the first ways children learn is by imitating.
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.
A child should not go on an extremely restricted diet, nor prevented from eating when he is hungry. Children need nutrients and calories to help them develop and grow. If you find that you cannot help your child lose weight with a nutritious eating plan and physical activity, consult a physician or dietician.
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 is therefore, key in preparing our children for a healthy adolescence and adulthood. Environment, behavior and genetics all play a role in childhood obesity; the most important thing is to focus on changing those things we can control, like behavior. That is right - the old diet and exercise advice.
About the Author:
Rochester Athletic Club, Rochester Health Club and Rochester Personal Training dedicate their services to fitness and health.
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