Child Obesity - Prevent

The fact is, childhood obesity is an enormous epidemic that effects individuals not only in the United States, but all over the developed world. It has risen to become the most common chronic childhood disease, with over one third of all American children effected by it.

Not only is obesity an aesthetic affliction that children have to deal with on a social scale. It is also a major health problem that can lead to serious disorders and diseases in both childhood and adulthood, if it carries over. For this reason, if your child is suffering from overweight or obesity, then it is necessary to take action today before it is too late.

There are many productive ways parents can go about preventing their children from becoming obese. One program would be to simply enforce a daily regiment of one hour of physical activity, the consumption of five fruits and non-starchy vegetables, and less than two hours of television watching or video game playing.

Parents and guardians should keep in mind that weight loss is not a healthy or proper method for young children to employ, as their bodies are still developing. Unless a doctor assigns your child to be put on a diet for specific medical reasons, dieting should not be encouraged in young children, as it could deprive them of the nutrients and energy they need to grow.

Rather, the aim should be for the child to maintain their current weight while waiting to grow in to their normal height. By reducing fat and increasing physical activity, the vast majority of overweight children will eventually grow in to their normal weight.

The key to combating obesity seems to lie in energy balance – that is controlling the amount of calories that are consumed versus the amount of calories that are expended. So in other words, when we talk about fighting obesity, we have to talk about both eating and physical activity. This might seem pretty simple, but the fact is eating and physical activity are caught up in a number of complex social and environmental forces.

In the last three decades that have seen the epidemic of obesity balloon out of proportion, the society has undergone major changes. Children now spend more time on activities such as watching television and playing video games rather than playing sports or exercising. What’s more, in a society that is increasingly “on the go,” children rarely eat at home now with their parents, and when they do, fast food is often the solution for those who are time challenged.

Parents can provide their children with better options by promoting a healthy lifestyle, encouraging physical activity and healthy eating, rather than focusing their children’s energies on attaining a specific weight. Eating healthy, balanced home made meals, featuring the daily intake recommended in the FDA food pyramid – and combining this healthy eating style with regular physical exercise and activity – can spare an obese child the burdens of developing in to an obese adult.

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