Obesity in child can cause some serious health concerns such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, heart diseases, bone abnormalities, sleep apnea, psychological problems and gastro-intestinal diseases. Obesity in child research has shown that obese kids are at a higher risk of becoming obese adults. Then go one step further and you find that obese parents tend to foster obesity in child. This cycle is hard to stop without the individual families stepping up and taking responsibility for it.
However, it is possible for the parents to influence the lifestyle of their children and help them attain and maintain a healthy weight and break this cycle. In the short run there is an extreme financial and social advantage for the family and in the long run for society as a whole.
How Parents Can Help Influence Obesity in Child
1) Parents must pay close attention to their kids so that their kids have a feeling of belonging. Kids who are not tended to by their parents are usually at higher risk of getting overweight. Do not nag the kids during mealtime or closely monitor the amounts consumed by them, as this may interfere with the child’s natural response to feeling hungry.
2) Limit the television time for your child. There is direct correlation between the degree of overweight and the amount of time spent in watching television, as it replaces the physical activity, and reduces the metabolism. Television can also indirectly affect kids through advertisements, and prompt them to consume junk foods and beverages that can add to the obesity in child.
3) Do not focus too much on the weight. It is more important to have good eating habits and get daily exercise. Worrying too much about weight leads to abnormal eating habits. It is harder to break a habit then to establish a correct habit initially especially once obesity in child is reached.
4) If there are signs that your chid is overweight or is at a risk of becoming obese, consult the pediatrician as soon as you can, to help prevent obesity in child as soon as possible.
5) Mothers-to-be do not really need to eat for two, and overeating during pregnancy can put both mother and child at the risk of becoming obese. It seems to be important to breastfeed for at least a year.
6) During early infancy, emphasize more on fruits, grains and vegetables and follow on the child’s cues regarding hunger and fullness.
7) If your child is at the risk of obesity, try to use low-fat milk. Avoid sugary and fatty snacks that are high in empty calories. For school-age children, set firm rules regarding television, healthy snack choices, occasional treats and general food habits.
The problem of obesity in child does not remain same, but keeps increasing year after year, and since 1980, the rise has been dangerously high. This obesity in child trend can not be changed by government intervention although it will try. Regulations will be imposed that will attempt to change our lifestyle which always have a negative effect over time. The only way to change the obesity in child trend is for individual families to begin to take responsibility for their own actions and to understand the negative impact of obesity on their way of life.
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