What Parents Need to Know about Childhood Obesity
It’s so typical for people these days to find chubby babies endearingly cute, especially those that have big cuddly cheeks and fat arms and legs. They may be cute while they are still small but if the parents don’t watch what these kids eat, it is very possible that cute kids will eventually grow into obese adults who are at risk of multiple obesity-related illnesses.
What’s alarming is that in the last three decades, cases of childhood obesity in the United States have more than doubled, according to the National Institute of Health. These cases are spread throughout different ages, genders and ethnicities. In other words, no one is completely safe from the condition.
Aside from the obvious health consequences of being obese, there are also other problems that can stem from childhood obesity. For example, fat kids are among the most popular targets of school bullies. Because of the persecution that they might face among their peers, overweight children may develop deep-seated psychological issues that they will take with them into adulthood.
If you are the parent of an obese or overweight child, it is your responsibility to monitor their diet and exercise habits to make sure that they go down to a normal weight as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many parents don’t take childhood obesity seriously. Many of them think that it is just a phase that will eventually pass, which is usually not the case.
Even worse, some parents may even unknowingly encourage their child to gain more weight by giving them unhealthy food choices, or by not pushing them more to take up physical activities instead of sitting in front of the computer or television all day. A lot of parents are buying their kids all sorts of gadgets these days, such as digital tablets, smart phones, and such. Owning or using these gadgets is not bad, but spending more time on them than on physical activities is.
If your child is overweight, you should carefully watch their consumption of fats and sugars. This is very important especially because these unhealthy foods are actually the most accessible to our kids, thanks to fast foods and most snacks.
Conquering Childhood Obesity
There are several things that parents can do to conquer or prevent obesity in children. Following are some great tips shared by parents of overweight kids.
•Expose your kids to physical activities. Many schools encourage children to participate in sports and other physical activities, and parents should definitely show the same kind of enthusiasm. Whether it is soccer or ballet that strikes your kid’s fancy, show support and encourage them.
•Put a limit on watching TV and playing video games. Don’t ban television altogether especially if what your child likes watching National Geographic or Discovery Channel, but you should really set a limit so that they will have the chance to pursue other activities.
•Do not allow junk food. Help them make the switch to a healthier lifestyle by giving them healthy snacks instead of the usual chips and chocolate bars.
•Teach by example. This is the most important, and oftentimes the most difficult, way to introduce children to healthy living. If you want your child to overcome obesity, you might have to make some changes to your diet and your lifestyle in general as well.
Childhood obesity may be a serious health issue but it can definitely be prevented. By being involved in your child’s health, you will be able to help them avoid this problem and help instill healthy habits in them at the same time.
