Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat accumulates to the extent that it can hurt health. Consuming more food than our body needs increases the body's fat reserves. People are generally considered obese when they have a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 or higher. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. Over the past two decades, obesity has become more prevalent in Pakistan due to reduced physical activity and consumption of high-fat diets. It is found in India but now it has gained its foothold in poor countries as well.
Young people are overweight. And if that's not scary enough, we should also keep in mind that 41 million children under the age of 5 are obese.
Many factors have led to the spread of this authentic epidemic, with little awareness of its problems, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet being the main reasons for its spread.
Being overweight is not an "aesthetic problem". In fPoorsical condition is the least of the problems for these children. Childhood obesity predisposes children to - and continues throughout their lives - disorders and diseases that until a few years ago were thought to be reserved for adults.
In today's article, we will talk about childhood obesity, explain what causes it, and its health effects and finally, we will present the best ways to avoid it.
Childhood obesity is a disease that affects children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 years. Which, for various reasons that we will see below, these children weigh more than would be normal for their age and height.
Of course, not all children with "a few extra pounds" are obese. Every child stores fat in different ways and have a specific metabolism, so an above-average weight is often corrected with old age.
A case of childhood obesity should be diagnosed by a doctor, who will not only determine the body mass index (BMI) but also examine the child's general health to look for damage caused by being overweight.
Their main problem is not only that they often carry this obesity with them for the rest of their lives, but it also causes children to develop diseases that until recently were thought to only affect adults. Can suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep disorders...
Not to mention the social implications of obesity on children: low self-esteem, bullying, social problems, depression, and difficulty performing in school.
Although there is a genetic factor that predisposes one to have a greater or lesser tendency to gain weight, in this case, the main reason is the "parental" factor. In most cases, parents are responsible for exposing their children to obesity
Children are children, so they will only want to eat what they like the most, but this is where common sense comes in as a parent, who must fight to guide their child to a healthy lifestyle.
Personal, parental and family stress can increase a child's risk of obesity.
Sometimes medications taken to treat an illness can also cause weight gain.
Therefore, although the genetic and hormonal component of each child is affected, virtually all cases of childhood obesity are due to parental neglect.
Therefore, the causes of childhood obesity are usually the following: nutrient-dense foods, more industrial pastries, sugary drinks, fast foods, and ultra-processed foods, lack of physical exercise, sedentary lifestyle.
- Physical complications.
As we have said, if a child weighs a little more than normal, it should not be bad, because most likely he will regain his ideal weight in time. Nor should we make our children the healthiest people in the world. You have to find a balance.
.t is classified as a disease in the clinical world and can have a series of physical manifestations, as excess body fat compromises the functionality of many organs.
This chronic condition affects the way your child's body uses glucose. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
A poor diet can cause your child to develop either or both of these diseases. These factors can contribute to the buildup of plaque in the arteries and narrow the arteries, which can lead to a future stroke or heart attack. Childhood obesity causes pain in the hips, knees, and back.
Researchers say that there is a risk of developing heart disease at a younger age. But they also say that it can be controlled by preventing childhood obesity.
According to experts, such children can be protected from heart diseases by giving them healthy foods and emphasizing physical exercise.
Asthma is common in children who are overweight. Their sleep is more likely to be disturbed. Because in this disease there is difficulty in breathing during sleep at night.
According to research, people with adequate sleep or lack of sleep love to consume salty and sweet snacks and drinks, but those who sleep less consume more calories from these foods throughout the day.
Childhood obesity causes liver disease in children with no symptoms, but it causes fat to accumulate in the liver, injure the liver, and cause liver damage.
It weakens bones and causes more frequent bone fractures.
During childhood, rather endangers his whole life, because if any of them develops a chronic disorder, it will drag him for the rest of his days.
- MENTAL COMPLICATIONS.
If the physical symptoms are not enough to warn of its dangers, it should also be taken into account that being overweight in itself causes low self-esteem in the child. This often leads to extreme feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and harmful behaviors. It creates, and can even lead to, depression and other mental problems that are equal to or more dangerous than the physical symptoms.
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SOCIAL ISSUES.
As a result of these mental manifestations, social problems arise, feeding each other back. Some of the most common social complications are low self-esteem, social problems, lack of communication skills, loneliness, bullying, and teasing.
After analyzing its causes, we can see that it is Childhood obesity is an easily preventable disease. And, given the complications this creates, adopting the steps we'll outline below should be a top priority for all parents.
Here are 12 tips that should be applied from the first years of life and throughout a child's childhood. We remember that it's okay if a child is a little overweight because it's likely not a serious problem and parental pressure is more damaging to their self-esteem than being overweight itself.
We also remember that we should not try to make our children the healthiest people in the world. As long as there aren't too many excesses, you have to let the kids be happy, eating sweets, and pizza, playing video games and watching TV. In short, you have to let them enjoy their childhood without compromising their future health.
- CUT BACK ON BAKERY AND ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS
Sweets and ultra-processed foods are high in sugar and saturated fat. You don't need to buy these foods constantly, because they are the ones that contribute the most to excess weight.
- FOCUS YOUR DIET ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Fruits, vegetables, and other natural products should always be in sight at home. Children's diets, like adults, should be based on these foods, as they are the most nutritious and prevent excess weight.
- SERVE SMALL PORTIONS OF FOOD
So the child will feel full when the plate is full. We shouldn't overfeed him for his age, we'll just eat more calories than he should.
- LIMIT CONSUMPTION OF SOFT DRINKS
Sugary drinks are incredibly high in sugar, and many children drink them constantly. They should not be banned, but their consumption should be monitored.
- AVOID FAST FOOD.
Obviously can (and almost should), but what cannot be allowed is that a large part of the child's diet is based on fast food, because it is high in fat and low in nutrition. Contains products priced at
- "FORCE" PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
In the best sense of the word, you have to force children to be physically active. It doesn't mean you play team sports. Dancing, cycling, playing outside, etc. can be ways that a child enjoys exercising. You have to avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
- GO FOR A WALK
Walking is a great way to burn calories and strengthen family bonds, as it is a fun time spent as a family.
- TURN MEALS INTO FAMILY MOMENTS
In addition to strengthening the relationship with children, making meals and dinners "sacred" makes it easier for you to control what your child eats.
- LIMIT TIME WITH SCREENING
Don't ban television or video games, but limit the time they are used. You should spend no more than two hours in front of the television and video games should be reserved for weekends.
- SEE IF THE CHILD LIKES A SPORT
We have to meet our kids and see if there is a possibility that he likes the game. Signing him up would be an ideal way for him to get regular physical activity and socialize with other children.
- BUILD SELF-ESTEEM
To prevent a child from falling into compulsive eating, it is important to make sure that he is understood and loved. Puberty and teenage years in particular are the most difficult, so you have to be very careful to stick to healthy habits.
- BE AN EXAMPLE TO YOUR CHILD
It is useless to give your child good food and exercise if he sees that his parents do not because they will abandon him. Therefore, it is important to lead by example and support the child in this healthy life, eating well and exercising. The whole family will benefit.
Fatty and chubby kids look beautiful on everyone. But they look good to a certain extent. Therefore, it is important to take care that it does not become a disease beyond the limit. Obesity is very dangerous, avoid it yourself and your children too.