Prevent Childhood Obesity at an Early Age
Edited by Mian Sheilette Ong, Robbi, Lynn, Eng and 1 other
Many parents are concerned with childhood obesity. This health issue is a major concern on a global scale. Childhood obesity usually affects those who belong to middle- and low-income families in urban areas. It is a very alarming fact that many children under five years old are already diagnosed with obesity. Parents and guardians have to step up to the plate and do something about this worsening epidemic. Obese children tend to stay obese until they reach adulthood. This is when the condition takes a huge toll on them. Parents and guardians should know how to prevent childhood obesity as early as possible. This is the only way healthy eating habits and lifestyles can be established, even as a child. Of course, it can be a challenge to start and implement this, especially if the adults need help in this area as well. Nonetheless, responsibility enables people to move toward the precipice and here, change will definitely happen.
Getting to Know Obesity
Obesity is a condition wherein the body accumulates too much fat, beyond normal levels. The excessive fat accumulation is a cause for various health conditions to spring up. It is not easy to measure obesity in adolescents and children because they are still undergoing various physiological and anatomical changes.
Discovering obesity matters because it helps parents prevent the consequences of this condition. Obesity in children presents an elevated chance of disability and early death upon reaching adulthood.
Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes come into play early in life. These health issues depend on the period of obesity and the age of its onset. If childhood obesity is not controlled, the child will inevitably develop stroke, heart disease, osteoarthritis, colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and diabetes.
The burden of childhood obesity is considered doubly complicated, especially in middle income and low-income families. They often also suffer from malnutrition and infectious diseases. At the same time, they have to deal with being overweight and obese. This complication is a result of poor pre-natal health, infant nutrition, and childcare. As the child grows, there is exposure to energy-dense, low nutrient, ad high fat foods. In addition, they also have very little physical exercise.
Main Causes of Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is mainly the outcome of an imbalance of energy between the calories spent and the calories consumed. On a global scale, this health condition is affected by the following factors:
- 1This includes modes of transportation, high technology, and recreation.The increasing frequency and adherence to sedentary living.
- 2These items are high in sugar and fat. Such foods are also low in micronutrients, minerals, and vitamins.The shift towards high-energy foods.
- 3Social causes that bring about childhood obesity are the following:
- The development of social media, food processing, education, technology, and transportation. Children are now exposed to various developments in these areas that make them choose certain habits, foods, and drinks.
- 4Unlike adults, children cannot choose what they eat or drink. They just take in what is given to them by their parents or guardians.Children's limited choice of environment they live in.
- 5This makes it utterly important to provide special attention to them.Children's inability to foresee the consequences of what they choose to take into their bodies.
How to Prevent Childhood Obesity as Early as Possible
General Guidelines
- 1Parents and guardians should encourage the intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes.
Specific Methods
- 1Early education teachers, parents, and childcare providers should perform the following to help control childhood obesity as early as possible:
- 2About 1 to 2 hours of daily exercise should be provided to children and adolescents. This includes playing outside if it is possible.Have regular exercise.
- 3It should only be about half an hour every week for children two years old and above. Older children should be encouraged to watch television only up to two hours weekly.Television viewing should not be allowed for children under 2 years of age.
- 4Every meal should be suitable to the taste of the entire family. Fried foods should not be served.Vegetables and fruits should be served with every main meal.
- 5Never serve high sugar drinks. Low fat or non-fat milk should be given to children at least two years of age. Only 4-6 oz. of juice should be served daily.Water should be served all day.
- 6Breastfeeding is still possible even if the mother is working.Breastfeeding mothers should continue giving breast milk to their infants even when they are left at a child care facility during the day.
- 7A healthy environment should be given to children so that they may grow, play, and eat ideally. All foods and activities should be age-appropriate.Those who provide childcare should educate the parents about eating and living healthy.
- 8Rest and sleep should always be a priority, to allow children to recuperate from their daily activities.Sleep time should be adequate.
How to Serve Healthy Drinks
- 1Clean drinking water should always be served instead of sugary drinks.
- 2Only 4 to 6 ounces of juice should be given every day for children one to six years old.
- 3Use cups in serving them only after meals.Only pure juices should be served.
- 4To children more than two years old, pasteurized milk (two percent) or skim milk should be given.
- 5To children less than two years old, whole milk (pasteurized) should be given.
How to Provide Ideal Feeding to Infants
If you want to prevent childhood obesity as early as possible, you should start from infancy. Below are some pointers to take in feeding infants:
Giving Age-Appropriate Fluids to Younger Children and Infants
- 1Provide parents with information about breastfeeding services and resources within their community.
- 2Establish a comforting and private place for mothers to breastfeed in malls or other common areas.
- 3Refrain from incorporating other food items into milk formula, if it is not recommended by your healthcare provider.
- 4Human milk should be given to infants until they reach the first year of life. Cow's milk should not be given until age one.Do not serve formula milk.
- 5Do not give fruit juice to a child below the age of one.
- 6Be sure to implement "responsive feeding".
- Perform breastfeeding when the infant makes sucking sounds and opens his or her mouth.
- Be aware of the infant's cues when he or she is already full to avoid excessive milk consumption. Cues can be closing of the mouth or turning the head away from the mother's nipple.
- Prop the infant up or keep the infant's head elevated while cradled in your arms. Never leave infants alone with their bottles filled with breast milk.
- Set a feeding time for each infant.
Other Considerations
- 1Make sure that you remove televisions, computers, and gadgets in your child's sleep area.
- 2This is a good way of teaching them to sleep on their own.Encourage your baby to sleep while drowsy.
- 3An example of this is reading bedtime books.Establish routine sleep activities.
Tips
- Give sweets as treats and not as part of daily meals.
- Prepare your kids' meals for school.
- Help establish a healthy menu for the school cafeteria.
- Always monitor what your child gets from the grocery shelves.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
