Childhood obesity

Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious issue with many health and social consequences that often continue into adulthood. Obesity in kids is now reaching alarming proportions. As these days kids spend more time in front of television, computer and video screens, their physical activity levels have decreased. Consequently, their body weights have increased.

• Obesity in kids is now epidemic in the United States .
• The number of children who are overweight has doubled in the last two to three decades; currently one child in five is overweight.

Causes of Childhood Obesity

• Eating too much Fat-rich food.
• Inadequate exercise. Kids who watch the most hours of television have the highest incidence of obesity.
• Eating disorders.
• Hormonal or genetic problems: The risk of becoming obese is greatest among children who have two obese parents. This may be due to powerful genetic factors or to parental modeling of both eating and exercise behaviors, indirectly affecting the child's energy balance.

Complications of Childhood Obesity

• Obese children and adolescents have shown an alarming increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes.
• Many obese children have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.
• One of the most severe problems for obese children is sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping). In some cases this can lead to problems with learning and memory.
• Obese children have a high incidence of orthopedic problems, liver disease, and asthma.
• Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
• Social and psychological problems like low self-esteem and depression affect relationships with peers.

Manage Childhood Obesity
If you are concerned your child may be overweight, talk to your doctor. A health care professional can measure your child's height and weight and calculate a ratio known as body mass index (BMI ). This number is compared to a growth chart for children of your kid's age and gender to determine whether his or her weight is in a healthy range. Once, the child has been evaluated for the cause and complications of obesity, initiate the treatment.

Set a healthy example.
If your children see you reach for a banana instead of French fries, they are likely to do the same. If they see you go for a walk or wash the car, they may join in.

No drugs are recommended for weight loss in children. The family and all caregivers should participate in the treatment program. The family should monitor eating and activity in the child.

1. Be supportive

• Be supportive. Do not single out or remind your children of their weight. They need acceptance, encouragement and love.

2. Encourage Activity

• You can help your children maintain a healthy body weight by encouraging them to be active.
• Encourage your children to participate in sports activities.
• Plan the family activities that involve exercise. Instead of watching TV, go hiking or biking, wash the car, or walk around a mall. Offer choices and let your children decide.

3. Nutritious Diet

• Eat meals together as a family and eat at the table, not in front of a television. Eat slowly and enjoy the food.
• Encourage your children to eat nutritious food like salad bars and baked food rather than sodas and french fries.
• Keep healthy snacks on hand. Good options include fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables; low-fat cheese, yogurt or ice cream.
• Do not use food as a reward or punishment. Children should not be placed on restrictive diets, unless advised by a doctor (for medical reasons). Children need food for growth, development and energy.

4. Time Management

Set guidelines for the amount of time your children can spend watching television or playing video games. An important part of treating obesity among children and adolescents is for parents and healthcare professionals to be sensitive to the youngsters and focus on the positive. Small and achievable weight loss goals should be set to avoid discouragement and to allow for the normal growth process. Involvement of the entire family is also a motivating factor. Weight control programs that involve both parents and the child have shown improvement in long-term effectiveness compared to directing the program only to the child.

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source: http://www.hateweight.com