CHILDHOOD OBESITY

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents In the past 30 years. “
Childhood obesity is a growing problem among children today. Childhood obesity has many short and long term effects on our children. Therefore, it is important that you, as a parent, teach your child to have a healthy balance between good nutrition and exercise.

HEALTH EFFECTS

The Centers for Disease Control tell us the immediate health effects of childhood obesity.

Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Obese adolescents are more likely to have pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes.

Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

The long term effects of childhood obesity are:

Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. study showed that children who became obese as early as age 2 were more likely to be obese as adults.

Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma .

PREVENTION

There are two important keys in the prevention of childhood obesity:

EATING HEALTHY + EXERCISE

EATING HEALTHY TIPS:

Children need to understand the importance of eating healthy. Never focus on the child’s weight or set goals to lose weight. Instead teach the child the importance of eating healthy.

Post a food pyramid on the wall or refrigerator and help your child make healthy choices from the food groups. Activity: cut out pictures of foods from magazines and make a poster of healthy foods under each food group.

Eat together with your child at regularly scheduled meal and snack times.

Let the child shop and cook with you this helps them become familiar with different foods.

EXERCISE TIPS

Limit the time your child can watch TV or play video games. Instead encourage your child to participate in physical activities.

Find out if there is an after school program of sports and games that your child can attend.

Schedule times to take walks with your child.

Make your physical activity fun.

Dance and exercise with your child.

Provide a clean safe outdoor environment for your child to play in.

Always check with your doctor before determining if your child is overweight before changing to a more restrictive diet.

RESOURCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/facts.htm