Childhood Obesity
The rate of childhood obesity among children of 6-11 years has tripled and among 2-5 years has doubled…
Roughly 1 out of 5 children in the U.S. is obese. Obesity costs the NHS of UK around £1 billion a year and a further £2.3 to £2.6 billion in indirect costs. This is a serious health condition where excess body fat the child carries affects his well-being, and also a major public health concerndue to rising rates among children and adults.
Most children will put on weight as they grow older. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but when this is actually more than what they need for their growth- can lead to childhood obesity. Diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure are no longer limited to adults.
How can you tell if your child is overweight?
A health professional calculates the child’s BMI and compares with the national average.
BMI- Body mass index is a statistical measurement that compares the child’s weight and height. Though it does not actually measure the percentage of body fat, it estimates a healthy body weight based on how tall they are. Growth charts are used to determine if they fall into ‘overweight’ or ‘obesity’ category. Factors like ‘child’s activity level’, ‘eating habits’, ‘family’s history of obesity’ and ‘related health problems, such as diabetes’.
Causes of Childhood Obesity:
• Bad nutrition habits and eating too much of junk food. • Lack of exercise: Just like adults, children nowadays live a not so active lifestyle, they are spending too much time in front of computer, TV or video games. • Genetic and hormonal causes: Being genetically predisposed to putting on weight. If the parents are overweight, children are quite likely to become overweight too. • Psychological reasons: Some children overeat to cope with problems or to deal with emotions, such as stress or boredom. • Socioeconomic factors: Children from low-income backgrounds are at greater risk of becoming obese. Poverty and obesity often go hand in hand because low-income parents may lack the time and resources to make healthy eating and exercise a family priority.
Effects on Health:
• The first problems to occur are psychological and emotional. Overweight children are more prone to being bullied and they are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and depression.
• Type 2 diabetes used to be known as an adult disease, now it is observed in overweight children too.
• Obese children are a lot more likely to develop high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease.
• Liver disease.
• Risk of early puberty or menarche.
• Skin infections.
• Insomnia and sleep problems. (Check out my favorite insomnia tips)
• Anorexia and bulimia.
• Asthma and other respiratory problems.
How Can You Help Your Child?
‘Environments that encourage healthy eating and active living are vitally important.’
• If you’re worried that your child is putting on too much weight, talk to his or her doctor or health care provider.
• Add healthy ingredients to foods your kids already like. Emphasize good nutrition, keep fast foods, fatty sweet snacks, sugary drinks and especially soft drinks to a minimum and keep fruits, vegetables and low-fat snacks available.
• Moderation is the key. If you deprive them of occasional cake once in a while, they will be more likely to overeat when they actually get them.
• If you don’t eat right, your children won’t either. Be a good example to them.
• Encourage physical activity and help them stay active. Make physical activity part of your daily routine and get your children to join you.
• Reduce sedentary time. In addition to encouraging physical activity, help children avoid too much sedentary time. Limit video and computer games or talking on the phone.
Glycemic Index Diet and Childhood Obesity:
Just as there are good and bad fats, there are good and bad carbohydrates. What’s increased dramatically in the American diet are the “bad” carbohydrates— foods like white bread, refined breakfast cereals and concentrated sugars— that are rapidly digested and raise blood glucose and insulin to high levels, changes that eventually can lead to diabetes.
Such foods are said to have a high glycemic index, or GI. “Good” carbohydrates— foods like whole grains, most fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes— have a low GI, meaning they’re low in sugar or release sugar slowly.
As lower GI foods can generally help people feel satisfied longer, this eating plan can combat the epidemic of childhood obesity when introduced into a family eating plan.
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Childhood Obesity- References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childhood_obesity.
Strauss RS (2000). “Childhood obesity and self-esteem”. Pediatrics 105 (1): e15.
Peter G. Kopelman (2005). Clinical obesity in adults and children: In Adults and Children. Blackwell Publishing. p. 493.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/obesity2.shtml
http://www.mayoclinic.com/ health/ childhood-obesity.
