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The Reality of Childhood Obesity
According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), the prevalence of childhood
obesity in all age groups is about 20-25%. The cause of childhood obesity
is the same as that of adult obesity - it occurs when a person eats more
calories than the body burns. An obese child allegedly becomes an obese
adult.
Obese children are more likely to have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular
disease, which can include elevated cholesterol levels or high blood pressure.
Obese children in the age group 5 to 17 are at high risk for joint problems,
sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea, and social stigma and psychological
problems such as poor self-esteem and stigmatization. The chance of a
medical problem being the cause of childhood obesity is less than 1%.
Risk Factors
As the parent or guardian of a child, it is important to be aware of the
contributing factors of childhood obesity. Overweight is not usually due
to one single factor, but rather to a complex series of variables, including
genetics, environment, behavior and certain socio-demographics.
The Genetic Factor
Studies have shown that overweight issues tend to run in families, which
implies a genetic link. Parental obesity is a strong indicator that the
children will also be overweight. However, in many cases of childhood
obesity, unhealthy behaviors such as poor nutrition and a sedentary disposition
are often the responsible culprits.
Nutrition
Young people’s poor eating habits, such as the consumption of high
calorie foods, fast foods, and fatty foods, as well as sugared drinks,
are the recognized factors contributing to childhood obesity. As today’s
households often have both parents earning income, home cooked meals are
becoming rare and the replacement of a balanced diet with processed foods
is now common. In order to save time and energy, many family meals are
spent in restaurants, with little thought given to nutritional value or
portion size.
Exercise
Ongoing school budget cuts have initiated the elimination of several classes
from the education program, physical education being one of the first
to go. The days of walking or riding your bike to school and helping with
chores are nearly non-existent. The arrival of the cell phone age, the
introduction of electronics, and the decrease in parental supervision
allows children to amuse themselves for hours without moving a muscle.
Watching television, playing video games. surfing the web, and texting
is more popular than ‘playing outside’.
Health Programs
The rise in overweight children and adolescents has prompted schools to
become directly involved. Many are introducing and promoting healthy food
programs. Since the White House’s increasing concern over childhood
obesity, several novel approaches to healthy living have been presented.
Federal grants have made possible such programs as “Healthy Youth”
and “Let’s Move”. These services are actively addressing
childhood obesity and are gradually showing positive results.
How Can We Help?
Adults are the role models for children, who eventually become the product
of their home and school environments. Here are some tips on how to influence
your child to adopt a healthy lifestyle:
- Keep your own weight in the normal range
- Engage in physical activities that include the children
- Eat health-conscious meals at home as a family
- Limit mindless snacking
- Do not use food as a reward
Overeating, poor food choices and little or no physical activity can result in obesity. Healthy lifestyle habits, which include a nutritious diet and physical exercise, can lower the risk of becoming an overweight adult, developing obesity and suffering from diseases related to obesity.
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