Childhood Obesity: Cause and Prevention

Childhood obesity is reaching epic proportions in most Western countries. At least 15% of children over six years of age are obese and there is no sign of this statistic slowing down. Just like adult obesity, childhood obesity is a medical condition when the child’s body weight is above the recommended weight for their height.

Causes of childhood obesity

Many blame today’s society that encourages children to eat more and exercise less. Here are some causes:

Little or no physical exercise. Computers and television have replaced many activities that children used to do. Many children as young as seven now have their own computers. Diet. The prevalence of fast-food restaurants and snacks in vending machines are encouraging children to eat foods high in fat and sugar. Many affluent families are eating out more and if they take their children, they may go for a burger. If they eat at home and the parents are obese, the children may not have a well-balanced diet. Genetics. If children have overweight parents, it is extremely likely the children will develop obesity. Psychological. Children can get easily bored or depressed and this can lead to them reverting to food. Also, obese children are often the victim of cruel jibes at school, which can lead to depression and more over-eating. Prevention of childhood obesity

There are three ways to help obese children:

Encourage exercise. Taking up an activity or sport is essential for children as they grow up. It fosters an interest early in life and gets them outdoors. Change diet. Children need a balanced diet as they grow, with the recommended number of fruits, vegetables, and carbohydrates. Obese children should be on a low-fat, and low sugar diet. Support and encourage. Parents should make behavioral changes in the household. Some suggestions would be having meals as a family around the table and not in front of the television, and avoiding fast-food restaurants.

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