Childhood obesity is a grave medical condition which poses as an immense threat amongst the younger generation, today. The development phase of this health issue starts quite early, especially with the neglect of regular exercise and good dietary habits.
It is essential for the parents as well as their children to understand that childhood obesity can have a greater and dangerous impact on their life. Some common instances of these health consequences, as stated by the World Heart Federation, include
Another concerning factor is overweight children and teenagers are more susceptible to becoming obese when they become adults. Hence, it becomes imperative to ensure the early screening of overweight children. This will help in determining and identifying the risk factors to the child’s health.
The human body is made up of fat, water, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Obesity primarily means the accumulation of excessive fat in the human body. The factors which are increasingly resulting in rising cases of childhood obesity are:
The prevalent reason behind childhood obesity is consuming more calories than what is burnt while performing routine activities. Being overweight is a dangerous prospect, especially for children, as eliminating fat cells becomes difficult.
Body Mass Index provides a precise guideline for determining the body fat in children and teenagers. It helps in ascertaining if the child is overweight or underweight. Appropriate assessment of BMI primarily depends on the child’s age. This is because when they grow, the fat content in their body also changes.
Along with the physical complications, there can be emotional and social complications associated with childhood obesity, as well. Some of them are discussed in details below.
Modifying the eating habits of children ageing 6 to 11 can be helpful. Increasing their physical activities will also encourage overweight children in shedding those extra kilos. While shopping for grocery items, opt for fresh vegetables and fruits. Avoid buying convenience food items like cookies, aerated drinks, etc. Cutting down the fat, sugar and calorie content will be perfect for the child’s health.
Help your child in choosing activities which they genuinely enjoy. If they like swimming, dancing or martial arts, then it is best to encourage them. Limiting the recreational time on T.V and computer will also be beneficial for obese children.
Infants (less than 1 year) should:
Children 1-2 years of age should:
WHO Recommended levels of physical activity for children aged 5 - 17 years
For children and young people, physical activity includes play, games, sports, transportation, chores, recreation, physical education, or planned exercise, in the context of family, school, and community activities. In order to improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, bone health, and cardiovascular and metabolic health biomarkers:
What essentially matters is changing the food habits of the obese child and ensuring that they take part in physical activities. Some positive aspect of doing so will be the addition of inches in the child’s height and reduction of pounds from their weight. No matter what, always ensure that you encourage them in their weight-losing journey and be supportive towards them.
Source : AskApollo
Last Modified : 7/1/2024
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