Obesity has become a potential health hazard for people all over the world and what is alarming is that children too have joined this dangerous trend. Childhood obesity is considered to be more of an epidemic in various parts of the world and brings along with it a variety of other diseases ranging from hypertension to type II diabetes, not to mention psychological problems as well.
Awareness, in this regard, is to be first created among parents. Most parents are of the opinion that a fat child is a healthy one too. They close their eyes to the double chin and protruding tummy of the child and consider it mere ‘puppy fat’. Ultimately, this reaches a stage where the child starts developing health issues, and only then do parents react.
What are the reasons which contribute to unhealthy weight gain in children? It is seen that faulty dietary habits which start early in life are responsible to a large extent for this unhealthy trend. Children grow up on processed food stuffs which are high in salt, fat, sugar, etc often emulating their parents who are the actual culprits in this matter. Irregular eating habits like snacking frequently and eating more than what is required also contribute to this dangerous trend.
Lack of physical activity is also a reason for the growing rates of childhood obesity. Children are more interested in sitting in front of the television or computer rather than sweating it out in the playground. There is no strenuous activity in their life to burn off extra calories and this also causes the child to become fat and unhealthy. Inactivity is most certainly a lifestyle issue that causes a whole lot of trouble.
Obesity is also caused due to emotional disturbances in the child. Adverse situations at home, school, etc may upset the child to a great extent. Not being able to handle such negative emotions, such children sometimes find comfort in food, a trend that leads to obesity. Genetic factors are also responsible for obesity in children to a certain extent. But these can be effectively controlled to a large extent by proper dietary and lifestyle changes.
Childhood obesity can be brought under control by taking timely help and advice from professionals in this field. But the most important way of combating this malady would be to correct and control the child’s eating habits and encourage the child to get involved in physical activities.
Restrict or limit the child’s intake of processed foods that impart negative calories and instead, encourage the child to eat more natural food stuffs with limited fat content. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and various other healthy options should be introduced into the child’s diet so as to get the benefit of proper nutrients. The child should also be encouraged to play outdoor games so that he remains fit physically too.
Childhood obesity is certainly a social problem these days, but with the right guidance, our youngsters can grow up to be healthy adults who will not be ashamed of their bodies.
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