Why Are Our Children Obese? - Greenspoon

Download our app on iOS or Android

Why Are Our Children Obese?

Greenspoon Weekly Blog is a brand new column by our Greenspoon Team that covers lifestyle related content ranging from our environment, lifestyle, health and food ! Each week , expect a thought provoking, informative blog that we hope will be useful to you!


Overweight and obesity in children are among the most important risks to children’s long and short-term health. Overweight children are very likely to become overweight adults. Overweight children are more likely to be teased by their peers or to develop low self-esteem or body image problems. Once children are overweight, it requires a lot of effort and commitment for them to return to a healthy weight.

CAUSES OF OBESITY

  1. Diet. Regularly eating high-calorie foods, such as fast foods, baked goods and vending machine snacks, can cause your child to gain weight.
  2. Family factors. If your child comes from a family of overweight people, he or she may be more likely to put on weight. This is especially true in an environment where high-calorie foods are always available and physical activity isn’t encouraged.
  3. Psychological factors. Personal, parental and family stress can increase a child’s risk of obesity. Some children overeat to cope with problems or to deal with emotions, such as stress, or to fight boredom. Their parents might have similar tendencies.
  4. Socioeconomic factors. People in some communities have limited resources and limited access to supermarkets. As a result, they might buy convenience foods that don’t spoil quickly, such as frozen meals, crackers and cookies.
  5. Certain medications. Some prescription drugs can increase the risk of developing obesity.
  6. Lack of physical activity. Children are less active than they were in the past.
  7. Spending a lot of time on sedentary pursuits. Children watch, on average, around 2½ hours of television a day, as well as spending time using computers and other electronic games.
  8. Overweight parents. A family’s eating patterns can have a major influence on whether a child maintains a healthy weight. Some overweight parents may be less concerned about their children also being overweight than parents who have a healthy weight.

Consequences of Obesity

Obesity during childhood can harm the body in a variety of ways. Children who have obesity are more likely to have:

  • High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
  • Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
  • Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea.
  • Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort.
  • A family eating a healthy meal outdoors.
  • Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life.
  • Social problems such as bullying and stigma.

HOW TO PREVENT OBESITY

To help prevent excess weight gain in your child, you can:

  • Set a good example. Make healthy eating and regular physical activity a family affair. Everyone will benefit and no one will feel singled out.
  • Have healthy snacks available. Options include air-popped popcorn without butter, fruits with low-fat yogurt, baby carrots with hummus, or whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk.
  • Offer new foods multiple times. Don’t be discouraged if your child doesn’t immediately like a new food. It usually takes multiple exposures to a food to gain acceptance.
  • Choose nonfood rewards. Promising candy for good behavior is a bad idea.
  • Be sure your child gets enough sleep. Some studies indicate that too little sleep may increase the risk of obesity. Sleep deprivation can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to increased appetite.
  • Don’t have a clean-plate policy. Even babies turn away from the bottle or breast to send signals that they’re full. If kids are satisfied, don’t force them to keep eating. Reinforce the idea that they should only eat when they’re hungry.
  • Don’t talk about “bad foods” or completely ban all sweets and favorite snacks. Kids may rebel and overeat forbidden foods outside the home or sneak them in on their own. Serve healthy foods most of the time and offer treats once in a while.

Recommendations by Age

  1. Birth to age 1: Besides its many health benefits, breastfeeding may help prevent excessive weight gain.
  2. Ages 1 to 5: Start good habits early. Help shape food preferences by offering a variety of healthy foods. Encourage kids’ natural tendency to be active and help them build on developing skills.
  3. Ages 6 to 12: Encourage kids to be physically active every day, whether through an organized sports team or a pick-up game of soccer during recess. Keep your kids active at home with everyday activities like playing outside or going for a family walk. Let them be more involved in making good food choices, such as packing lunch.
  4. Ages 13 to 18: Teach teens how to prepare healthy meals and snacks at home. Encourage them to make healthy choices when outside the home and to be active every day.
  5. All ages: Cut down on TV, phone, computer, and video game time and discourage eating in front of a screen (TV or otherwise).

Available Resources

Use these resources to eat well and be active!

A healthy diet follows the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americansexternal icon .It emphasizes eating a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, a variety of lean protein foods, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products. It also recommends limiting foods and beverages with added sugars, solid fats, or sodium.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americansexternal icon recommends children aged 6 – 17 years do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Children aged 3 through 5 years should be physically active throughout the day for growth and development.

Source

 
  1. https://www.wikihow.com/Dispose-of-Food
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html
The Green Life     Recipes     Latest Thoughts     Environment     Social Impact

© Copyright 2024 Greenspoon | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions

0
Order before 10pm and get it delivered next day before 3pm. Order before noon and get it delivered today. Order GreenspoonGo for delivery within 3 hours between 8am and 7pm! Minimum of KShs 2,000 for delivery.
Welcome Guest! Waving Emoji Register with Greenspoon to save your cart, save products for later, view order history & more! Register Already a customer? Sign in
Your Cart is empty!

It looks like you haven't added any items to your cart yet.

Browse Products