The causes of obesity in children, its occurrence and remedy.
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Author: Simran Suri
Obesity is evolving as a major nutritional problem in developed and developing countries. According to WHO,22 million children under 5 yrs of age are over weight. The prevalence of obese children aged 6 to 11 years has more than doubled since 1960, in USA. In a study carried out in urban Indian school children in Kerala in the year 2003-05, showed a significant increase in obese and overweight children in a short span of 2 years.
Obesity is generally due to a caloric intake which exceeds the energy needs of our body, an excess of 100 calories everyday will add up to 3000 calories a month, in other words an increase of one pound of body weight per month.
The main cause of obesity amongst children is an increased consumption of energy dense foods high in saturated fats and sugars and reduced physical activity. Genetics and lifestyle also play an important role in determining the child’s weight. These days children have become very inactive because of the influence of television, computers, videogames etc.
Parents of overweight children have to first recognize their child’s problem, then they need to address it positively. As parents they need to focus on the child’s physical activity as well as his eating habits. It is very important to be a good role model for your child, so if you indulge in healthy eating and physical activity so will your child. In other words practice before you preach. It is very essential to expend your child’s energy in some outdoor sport like swimming, cycling, skating etc.
The child’s eating habits have to be closely monitored, and a conscious endeavour should be made to cut down on the fat and sugar content of your family’s diet. Your child’s diet must include at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, whole grains as they are good sources of complex carbohydrates and provide bulk and satiety. Also discourage your child from eating his meals while watching television. A diet comprising of five to six small meals in a day, will avoid overeating and increase metabolic efficiency. One should make sure that they do not skip any meals and don’t go on any crash diets as these diets can compromise the growth of your child and can cause a slowed the metabolic rate.
We must not forget that weight loss in obese children is a very gradual process and should be a life long effort.
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