CHILDREN OBESITY AND CAUSES

 Causes of obesity in large children

As a child, do you remember being given a lot of food and told to eat one bite at a time? Have you encountered parents who think that fat children are healthy and happy children? This is one of the reasons for the increase in the incidence of childhood obesity worldwide.

What is obesity?

Obesity means having too much fat in the body. Scientifically speaking, obesity is characterized by a higher than normal weight and body mass index. This results in high calorie intake and very low energy expenditure.

Obesity is a rapidly growing problem not only in the United States but throughout the world. A recent study reported that in the United States alone, 65 percent of the population is overweight or obese. . 15% of the United States child population reports being overweight. Worldwide, an estimated twenty-two million children aged five and under are overweight.

What causes obesity in children?

Like any other medical condition, childhood obesity can be caused by many factors, often in combination. Obesity can be either: acquired from external factors, hereditary, due to psychological factors, or secondary to an existing condition.

1. Acquired. This can be a result of poor eating habits and lack of physical activity which leads to weight gain by burning the calories obtained from the food eaten earlier.

2. Children born to hereditary obese parents are more likely to be overweight and obese themselves. This is usually due to shared unhealthy eating habits observed by the parents.

3. Psychological factors. Obesity occurs in children who overeat secondary to stress and/or negative emotions such as: boredom, anger, sadness, anxiety or depression.

4. Diseases. Various conditions such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, depression and other neurological concerns can lead to obesity and weight gain in children.

Are there any complications?

If a child has poor eating habits and does not engage in physical activity to burn calories, childhood obesity can lead to life-threatening complications including: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems , cancer and others. health concerns. Overweight children are also more likely to grow up to be overweight adults.

Fat children are often subjected to teasing and public humiliation. To some extent, this leads to harassment, violence and even discrimination from his family. Because of this, children actually grow up with low self-esteem and depression.

What can be done to prevent childhood obesity?

It is never a good idea to ignore the signs of obesity in children. Interventions should be made to establish good health before your child becomes obese.

Set an achievable weight loss goal. Your goals should not be too far-fetched and still have room for normal growth and development. Start small, so as not to overwhelm or discourage your child from the changes you plan to implement.

Manage your child's diet. Keep a journal or diary of your child's daily meals. This helps in coming up with a more accurate nutritional assessment. This food journal should be as detailed as possible.

Make time for physical activity. Exercise is essential for sustained weight loss. It also helps redistribute body fat to muscle. Again, start small to avoid discouraging the child. Gradually increase the exercise time for better results.

Finally, childhood obesity is a condition that is completely reversible. The best way to avoid this kind of dilemma for your child is to set a good example. Show them how good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle can help you enjoy life more. This is the best way to show them that you care.