- Childhood obesity is a serious issue that should be dealt with on time before it turns into other health problems
Childhood obesity: Obesity is a problem that tends to worry people of all age groups. While sometimes obesity can be genetic, sometimes it occurs because of our lazy routine. However, obesity in children requires the active attention of the parents. It is easier for parents to avoid or neglect when their child is overweight, however, childhood obesity is a serious issue that should be dealt with on time before it turns into other health problems.
Due to excessive fat, a child is prone to many health problems in the latest stage of life, such as diabetes, asthma, and even heart problems. Generally, an obese child will also face problems in doing day-to-day activities, including bathing, running and playing with children leading to low self-esteem of the child and sometimes getting stressed.
What causes childhood obesity?
Hormonal Changes
An increase in weight can also occur given hormonal changes in the body. Furthermore, medicines can also induce weight increase.
Genetic Factors
Even though obesity can be overweight with the right diet and exercise, if you are fat, your children are more likely to be born overweight. Some kids take obesity from the genes of their parents. Don’t worry, childhood obesity transferred due to genetic reasons can be controlled with exercise.
High-Calorie Diet
The right lifestyle attracts the right kind of health. Foods that are high in calories such as street and fast food, snacks, oily food, sugary diet, sweet beverages and trans fat causes obesity in children. Try to control your kid’s diet and teach them the importance of a healthy diet.
Psychological Reasons
We are part of a fast-pacing society where even kids are supposed to catch the pace of the competitive world. However, this contributes to stress levels and other psychological factors of children leading to obesity in some children.
Lacking Physical Activity also can lead to Childhood Obesity
Since studies and careers make children focus more on the internet, computers, mobile phones and television, lack of physical activity is another reason for overweight in children. When kids have less interest in sports, they don’t burn more calories and end up getting fat.
Also read: Too much digital strain on eyes? Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment
What are the potential risks of childhood obesity?
Childhood Obesity is a serious issue which parents must pay attention to. Child obesity can lead to several major disorders and health issues for a lifetime. Therefore, keep an eye on your child’s weight regularly.
This issue is likely to pose several health risks such as:
1. Asthma
Asthma and obesity are problems that are likely to occur together. If you have more weight, children might start facing breathing problems. Although there is no connection between these two disorders, obese children might face this chronic inflammation problem in the lungs if not treated at an early stage.
2. Diabetes
Not exercising, eating a sugary diet and gaining weight puts children under the radar of type-2 diabetes (a type in which the body isn’t able to digest the amount of glucose properly). However, you can easily avoid this lifestyle disease if you eat right.
3. Heart Diseases
Fatty foods and high salt lead to an increase in blood pressure and cholesterol which are both conditions that increase heart disease risk. Furthermore, these problems cause strokes and heart attacks even at early.
4. Sleep Disorders
Children with obesity whose fat deposits around the throat cause airways to get blocked face this issue. The infant develops a condition called slip apnea as a result of this disease. This prevents the youngster from breathing normally when they are asleep at night. Snoring also begins as a result of this.
Measures to Prevent Childhood Obesity
- Providing accurate physical education to children is quite important from an early age. Try to motivate your kids to perform more and more physical activities. If required play with them every day in the afternoon or in the evening as you get time. It will be a great exercise as well as a bonding activity for both of you.
- Although a child is always given a balanced diet, the fast-pacing world requires ease and comfort, which leads to children eating outside to save time. However, a child should be given a homemade nutritious and balanced diet in order to maintain healthy levels, as well as a healthy weight.
- Both in school and at home one must make sure that a child is doing great physically, emotionally as well as mentally. Never ignore their mental and emotional health and pay emphasis on all the factors.
- Try to increase the interaction of the child not only with the family but also with the people of society so that they become more expressive and emotionally strong reducing their psychological problems.
- Avoid eating junk food and fast food because these are the actual reason for an unhealthy lifestyle and a sudden increase in childhood Obesity.
- For children, it is preferred to keep them from eating sugary sweets such as chocolate, ice cream, flavour beverages, candies, etc.
- Keep a regular check on the weight of your child and the preventive measures required to maintain a healthy weight.
- Try not to eat oxygenated foods, foods high in trans fat and oily items even at home because these cause gastric problems at a young age which further escalate to fat problems.
- Encourage the children to eat healthy and digestive foods. Try eating yoghurt, fruit, salad, raw, green vegetables, dry fruits and nuts instead of fried oily food.
- Educate the children about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Also, teach them about the problem obesity causes to their bodies.