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What is childhood obesity?

Childhood obesity is defined as weight being well above normal for the child age and height. It is one of our nations leading health threats. Today about 25 million children ages 2-19 in this country are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. According to the Nemours Foundation, approximately one of three children can be classified as overweight or obese.

Hectic schedules mean home-cooked family meals are often skipped and replaced with less nutritious grab-and-go foods eaten on the run. Families eat out at restaurants more often, too, where portion sizes have ballooned, providing too many calories and too much fat. Poor eating habits, especially consumption of high calorie snacks can cause obesity in children. Some research also shows that extensive viewing of television, video games and computer use are additional factors.

Obesity in children is an epidemic that can lead to problems later on in life such as diabetes, heart disease and renal failure. Overweight children who have insulin resistance have an increased incidence of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition, psychological disorders such as depression occur with increased frequency in obese children.

Kids do not want to be fat, but oftentimes, they do not know how to carry on the best lifestyle possible. It is essential that the whole family should change their eating and living habits. Here are some tips:

Lots of Physical Activity

Children with lack of parental limitations on television watching and their parents own television viewing habits, were five to ten times more likely to be overweight. Parents who rely heavily on television viewing as a recreational activity should spend more time doing recreational activities at home or at the park. Because kids by nature are physically active, they find ways to get great exercise even on their own. However, parents should take the time to allow children to spend 8 hours a day running around outside.

Encourage your child to walk or ride their bikes to school accompanied by an adult. Parents should demonstrate the importance of physical activity by joining in. Start with small changes, like taking a family walk after dinner once a week. Set reasonable, measurable goals and implement them.

Introduce Healthier Eating

Americans eat more snacks, eat on the run, and eat larger portions. The first step in prevention and-or treatment is to help children change their eating behaviors and live healthier lifestyles.

Children should be allowed to select what they want to eat among healthy food choices; they should be allowed to stop eating when they feel full. An underweight, overweight, or normal weight child should be allowed to decide how much to eat or whether to eat at all, within reason. Children and adolescents who frequent fast foods consume more calories, unhealthy fats, sugars and carbohydrates. Many studies have established the dangers of fast food items to childrens health. Cut back or stop going to fast food places

A child should not go on an extremely restricted diet, nor prevented from eating when he is hungry. Children need nutrients and calories to help them develop and grow. If you find that you cannot help your child lose weight with a nutritious eating plan and physical activity, consult a physician or dietician.

Having our children lead a healthy life can be made easier by implementing certain steps at the community level. You can promote walking contests in your neighborhood or write to your councilman about healthy food options in schools and day care centers. Little things here and there can slowly contribute to a healthier lifestyle for kids.

Prevention can be looked at as a cure, if it is implemented and if there is effective communication. Environmental and social factors, genetics, illnesses, and medications do not necessarily cause a child to be overweight. Rather, they are risk factors, because they do not guarantee that a child will be obese. The most important thing is to focus on changing things we can control, such as behavior (the old exercise and diet advice).

Fitness Centers of Rochester, Rochester Group Fitness Programs and Weight Loss Centers of Rochester provide health and fitness consultation to its members.

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