Posts Tagged ‘childhood obesity’

Getting Your Obese Child to be More Active

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

If your child is obese, you must take steps to combat the problem as soon as possible. There are many things that you can do, such as preparing and serving healthy foods, and limiting access to unhealthy foods and snacks. Of course, regular visits to your doctor are also essential to help combat childhood obesity, but you must also get your obese child to be more active as well.

 

The biggest factor today that causes children to become obese is the fact that children simply are not as active as they once were. Instead of running and playing outside, they are camped on the living room sofa playing video games or watching television – or camped in front of the home computer, playing games, chatting with friends, or surfing the Internet.

 

Surprisingly, many schools have now done away with appropriate physical exercise and education classes as well. First, there are funding problems, and second, children have a great deal more to learn – from an academic standpoint – than they ever have before, which means that physical education programs have essentially been shoved aside due to time constraints.

 

It is up to you – the parent – to get your child to become more active. Start by leading by example. Start taking a walk each day, and invite – or insist – that your child goes with you. Start parking further away from the store or other places that you regularly take your child to, so that he or she must do some walking. Create situations where your child does as much walking or bike riding as possible – and do not invest in motorized bikes.

 

Join fun activities with your child, such as a dance class or a sports team. These days, children seldom take the initiative to do things on their own, so you will need to present the ideas and opportunities, and in many cases join in. You absolutely must be willing to do anything that you are asking your child to do.

 

Stop buying your child toys or games that don’t require any physical movement! Buy them balls, bikes, skates, jump ropes, and other items that promote physical activity above all else, and insist that they spend time outdoors each day, playing with and using those items. Simply put, you are the parent, and it is your call. If you don’t make them do it, they won’t do it, and if this means that you have to set things aside in your own life to go do some type of physical activity with them, then you must do so. Your child’s life depends on it.

Angela likes talking about Landau Scrubs and Urbane Scrubs as well as Landau Scrub Pants and also likes writing articles about various topics.

How Childhood Obesity Affects Your Child’s Life

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

If you don’t think your child’s weight – or your child’s obesity – is a serious problem, think again. You absolutely must consider how obesity is affecting your child’s health and his or her emotional state. Being overweight – especially obese – is very difficult for adults. It is even harder for children.

 

First, let’s take a look at the potential health problems associated with obesity. These include Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, problems with the bones and joints, sleep issues, fertility problems, liver disease, and gall bladder disease. Not all of these conditions will wait to strike your overweight child until he or she is an adult. Some will strike while the child is still young.

 

Then, there are the mental aspects of obesity. Obese children are more prone to depression – as children and as adults. They will usually have a low self esteem that will begin in childhood and follow them into adulthood – and possibly for their entire lives. Many children who are obese are also likely to develop eating disorders, such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa. These children are also more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and to have sexual experiences at a very early – inappropriate – age.

 

Aside from the mental and physical issues, there are also very serious emotional issues that stem from obesity in children. Because obese children are often the target of bullies, they will often be teased and will often be rejected by other children. Children can be exceedingly cruel to each other. This causes a great deal of emotional distress and stress in your obese child’s life.

 

Even if your child is lucky enough not to be teased, it won’t take long for them to see how they differ from the other kids. They won’t be able to play in the same way. At amusement parks, they may not be able to ride certain rides. They won’t have the same stamina that the other kids have either. All of this affects them greatly – and the saddest part is that they will hide how they are being affected by these issues from you.

 

No matter how much love you give your child, there is no way that you can protect them from the fallout of being obese. Your love is not going to make that go away. The best way to love your child is to help him or her to get the weight off, and to keep it off, so that they can avoid all of these problems.

Angela likes talking about Urbane Scrubs Free Shipping and Landau Scrubs as well as Landau Scrub Tops and also likes writing articles about various topics.

Helping Your Obese Child

Friday, January 8th, 2010

If your child is obese, he or she needs your help – desperately. If you found yourself to be overweight or obese, you realize, as an adult, that nobody can lose that weight for you. Unfortunately, your child is not equipped, as an adult is, to get the weight off without your help. Here are some ways that you can help your obese child.

 

Start by taking a look at the meals that you are preparing for your child – and the rest of your family. Make a vow to cook and serve healthier foods, and talk to your doctor openly about what your child should be eating, and how much of it he or she should be eating as well. If necessary, fork out the money for a private nutritionist.

 

Never use food as any type of reward for your child. This sends all of the wrong signals. Also, never force your child to eat foods that the rest of the family isn’t eating, while depriving them of the foods that the others are eating. That’s just cruel in the grand scheme of things. Make sure that the whole family is eating healthy.

 

Your parents probably required you to clean your plate at meal times. You cannot use that outdated policy on your own kids these days. Put the amount of food on the plate that the child needs – no more, and no less – and if they don’t ‘clean the plate,’ don’t sweat it.

 

While you should never reward your children with food, this is no reason to deprive your child of treats forever. Make going out for ice cream a special occasion. Serve cake on birthdays. Just use good sense, and keep the sweets and unhealthy foods to a minimum.

 

Get your obese child off the couch, out of the computer chair, and into action. Do physical activities as a family. Encourage them to join various sports teams. Enroll them in dance classes or martial arts classes. Make exercise fun for them, and make sure that they are getting at least an hour of physical exercise each and everyday. At the same time, however, don’t deprive them of the technology that is very much a part of their world, such as video games and computers. Just make sure that there is a healthy balance between the two.

 

Finally, make use of professionals that exist to find out how to approach your child’s obesity from a mental standpoint that won’t damage your child in the long run. Children are very sensitive, and what they think that you think of them can define their entire lives.

Angela likes talking about Urbane Scrubs Free Shipping and Landau Scrubs as well as Landau Scrub Tops and also likes writing articles about various topics.

Is Your Child Obese?

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Is your child obese? The chances are very good that he or she is actually obese, since one out of every three kids is considered overweight, or obese in the United States. There are several reasons why your child might have become obese, which we will address, but first, let’s determine whether your child actually is obese or not.

 

Whether a child or adult is considered obese or just overweight – there is a difference – is determined by the BMI, or Body Mass Index. The BMI is determined with a calculation that uses the height and weight of a person to determine what the BMI is. The formula for determining the BMI is weight x 703, divided by the height, squared. There are numerous free online BMI calculators that you can use, where you simply put in your child’s weight and height to get the actual BMI percentage number.

 

But what do these numbers mean, in terms of determining whether a child is obese or not? There is a nationally accepted chart for this purpose. If the BMI is under 18.5, the child is underweight. If the BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, the child’s weight is normal. If the BMI is 25 to 29.9, the child is overweight, and if it is 30 or above, the child is obese. The same is true for adults.

 

If your child has a BMI from 25 (overweight) to 30 or above (obese), it’s time to take stock and visit your doctor. You first need to make sure that there is no medical cause for your child’s obesity. Some medical conditions can cause a person to gain weight very easily, or make it impossible to lose weight when that is needed. A checkup is called for.

 

Next, if there is no medical cause for the child being overweight or obese, you must think seriously about the child’s normal day. What activities does your child participate in, in terms of physical activity and exercise? What is your child eating? Are you aware of all snacks that your child gets? What is the child drinking? You absolutely must determine what has caused the child to become overweight in the first place if you are going to do anything about it.

 

Next, work with your doctor to create a meal and exercise plan for your child. Understand that your child may resist this meal plan and exercise plan, but it is essential that you get your child’s cooperation. This can usually be done by having your doctor point out the potential health problems associated with obesity to your child. Just be careful not to stomp all over your child’s self esteem in an effort to help them lose weight.

Angela likes talking about Urbane Scrubs and Landau Scrubs as well as Landau Scrub Tops and also likes writing articles about various topics.

Helping Your Obese Child

Friday, January 8th, 2010

If your child is obese, he or she needs your help – desperately. If you found yourself to be overweight or obese, you realize, as an adult, that nobody can lose that weight for you. Unfortunately, your child is not equipped, as an adult is, to get the weight off without your help. Here are some ways that you can help your obese child.

 

Start by taking a look at the meals that you are preparing for your child – and the rest of your family. Make a vow to cook and serve healthier foods, and talk to your doctor openly about what your child should be eating, and how much of it he or she should be eating as well. If necessary, fork out the money for a private nutritionist.

 

Never use food as any type of reward for your child. This sends all of the wrong signals. Also, never force your child to eat foods that the rest of the family isn’t eating, while depriving them of the foods that the others are eating. That’s just cruel in the grand scheme of things. Make sure that the whole family is eating healthy.

 

Your parents probably required you to clean your plate at meal times. You cannot use that outdated policy on your own kids these days. Put the amount of food on the plate that the child needs – no more, and no less – and if they don’t ‘clean the plate,’ don’t sweat it.

 

While you should never reward your children with food, this is no reason to deprive your child of treats forever. Make going out for ice cream a special occasion. Serve cake on birthdays. Just use good sense, and keep the sweets and unhealthy foods to a minimum.

 

Get your obese child off the couch, out of the computer chair, and into action. Do physical activities as a family. Encourage them to join various sports teams. Enroll them in dance classes or martial arts classes. Make exercise fun for them, and make sure that they are getting at least an hour of physical exercise each and everyday. At the same time, however, don’t deprive them of the technology that is very much a part of their world, such as video games and computers. Just make sure that there is a healthy balance between the two.

 

Finally, make use of professionals that exist to find out how to approach your child’s obesity from a mental standpoint that won’t damage your child in the long run. Children are very sensitive, and what they think that you think of them can define their entire lives.

Angela likes talking about cheap Urbane Scrubs and writing health articles about various health related topics.

Obese Kids, Facts, Prevention and Solutions

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Obesity or over nutrition is a generalized and excessive accumulation of fat in subcutaneous and other tissues.

Obesity in childhood is not a disease but rather a symptom complex having a weak association with adult obesity with its correlates of increased mortality, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemias, liver diseases, cholelithiasis, and adult-onset diabetes.

Factors related to the occurrence of overweight and obesity are multifactorial in nature with the exception of certain single gene disorders associated with human obesity (Prader-Willi, Bardet-Biedl, and Cohen syndromes).

Some of known factors include:

- Repeated and uncritical offering of a bottle as a method of dealing with a fretful or crying infant may establish a habit that leads the infant to seek food whenever experiencing frustration.

- Uncritical early introduction of high-calorie solid foods may lead to rapid weight gain and obesity

- Heredity has recently been shown to influence fatness, regional fat distribution, and response to overfeeding. Infants born to overweight mothers have been found to be less active and to gain more weight by age of three months when compared with infants of normal weight mothers, suggesting a possible inborn drive to conserve energy.

- Excess fruit juice consumption by preschool-age children has been reported to be associated with obesity.

- excessive intake of high-energy foods

- inadequate exercise in relation to age

- more sedentary life-style

- low metabolic rate relative to body mass

- increased insulin sensitivity

The incidence of childhood obesity relates strongly to family variables, including parental obesity (The risk of becoming obese is greatest among children who have two obese parents), small family size, and family patterns of inactivity. An increased amount of time spent viewing T.V., playing video games, or “surfing” the internet appears to correlate with an increased incidence of childhood obesity.

Complications of obesity:

- Children with obesity experience significant social and psychological stresses and difficulties.

- School children are frequently harassed, intimidated, and excluded from other activities; teachers may treat obese children differently.

- Sleep apnea is increasingly identified in obese children, it is estimated that sleep apnea occurs in 7% of obese children, and it directly diminishes participation and academic performance.

- Glucose intolerance and non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) occur in obese children and adolescents.

- Obese children have elevated serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides and lowered high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

- Obese children are at increased risk of becoming obese adults.

- The pickwickian syndrome is a rare complication of extreme exogenous obesity, in which patients have severe cardiorespiratory distress with hypoventilation.

Prevention and treatment:

Early attempts to modify behavior commencing in infancy period, my effectively prevent overeating and obesity. Such attempts include;

1. Feeding an infant on demand shortly after birth.

2. Providing food only at signs of hunger in the 1st year of life.

3. Avoiding cueing by showing attractive foods or regimenting feeding times by clock.

4. Teaching the child to eat only when hungry.

After childhood obesity is established, active participation and motivation of both the child and the family is essential to implement an effective plan for weight reduction and maintenance.

Techniques used for fat reduction in adults, such as surgery, gastric balloons and pharmacotherapies are contraindicated in children.

Very low-calorie diets are inappropriate because they may impair growth and development at critical points during childhood.

Successful treatment of childhood obesity requires attention to the following components:

- Modification of diet and caloric content.

- Definition and use of appropriate exercise programs.

- Behavior modification of the child.

- Involvement of the family in therapy.

For more about Childhood Obesity click Here

What You Should Know About Childhood Obesity

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

weight gain

Studies indicate that the obesity epidemic starts at an early age. Approximately 80% of children who were obese during their youth (10 to 15 years of age) became obese adults by the age of 25. Additionally, if children are overweight before they’re eight years old, then their adult obesity will be more severe. Childhood obesity is linked with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and a wide range of health problems. Since the seventies, the number of obese kids has more than tripled!

At its most basic level, childhood obesity is caused by the consumption of more calories than the child can use, which causes the remaining calories to be stored as fat. In rare cases, genetics can play a role in the obesity of children with Prader-Willi syndrome, although behavioral factors, like the consumption of high calorie foods, minimal physical activity and a lack of supervision, are more likely contributors to weight gain. Consuming larger portion sizes, eating meals on-the-go, drinking multiple sugary carbonated beverages throughout the day and frequent snacking are common behavioral patterns in obese children.

If left untreated, childhood obesity can lead to a number of problems, both physical and psychosocial. Physically, 70% of obese 5 to 17-year-olds have at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor already, whether it is high blood pressure, high cholesterol or abnormal glucose tolerance, and 25% have at least two risk factors. Obesity is also the leading cause of type 2 diabetes, as 60% of diabetics are also overweight. More immediate health problems include sleep apnea, hepatic steatosis (fatty degeneration of the liver), kidney failure and asthma. Psychologically, obese adolescents become the targets of social stigmatization, which can leave lasting emotional scars that may never fully heal.

There are many ways to prevent childhood obesity in your home. While you certainly don’t want to place your child on a restrictive diet that may interfere with normal growth and development, planning meals with balanced calories can help ensure your child gets an appropriate amount of nutrition. Be sure to encourage your child’s healthy eating habits by providing vegetables, fruits, whole-grain foods, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, proper portion sizes and plenty of water. Limit sugar-sweetened beverages, sugar and fatty foods in the house as much as possible.

If You Don’t Give Assistance, Your Kid Won’t Lose The Flab

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Severely overweight rates in kids is an important and unfortunate by-product of modern living. The immense bodies of these children do not allow them to play gayly with their peers. Eating less food, plus combating the self-regard problems that fatness commonly brings, equals a total must for excessively fat children.

If you’ve an obese youngster, you should test every method conceivable to get him or her to drop that extra weight so that he or she can live a regular life. First of all, you have got to confer wiht your physician and discuss with him or her the best method for your youngster to not only lose body mass, but also sustain his or her health.

To be candid, if you waver to take the essential steps necessary to enable your child to shed that excess weight, you will place in jeopardy your youngster’s health. As we do not permit our kids to play on the motorway or handle firearms, why in heaven should we let them kill themselves by feeding on junk foods?

If you have got an obese youngster, the succeeding tips will be a big help to you:

Do not penalise or reward your youngster with food. Love of eating is one the biggest problems your child has to confront, and employing it as a punishment or reward will merely worsen the problem.

Encourage your youngster to eat healthy nutritious food instead of fast foods. There is a definite correlation between the excessive eating of fast food and obesity. Do not store any junk food in the home.

You must pack your child’s lunch pack so that you are aware of what he or she eats. Don’t allow the kid to buy any food in school.

At all times see that your kid does not eat any unhealthy food outside the home.

Alter the food habits of the whole family if you want to prevent childhood obesity. Instead of eating deep-fried food, eat nourishing fruit and nut snacks. Your child demands fresh fruits, raw veggies, or frozen yoghurt.

Consider the food pyramid if you question your child’s food needs. This will assure that you give your youngsters a well balanced diet.

Make sure that you youngster doesn’t drink any sugary drinks. You will have to face up to a lot of rebellion initially, but your youngster will develop an enduring love for water. Water not only maintains a sense of fullness, but also breaks down fat.

Introduce a lot of bodily activity into your youngster’s existence. Child obesity and exercise seems to be mutually exclusive, more exercise means that it is unlikely that your child will remain obese. Assist them to join a dance course, go for a extended walk, jog, run, or play soccer or or some other active sport.

Don’t permit your youngster to be a couch potato. Keep him or her from playing video and PC games. See that your kid is always active. Keeping the child physical means that he or she experiences a healthy alternative to eating. The result is that he or she is burning up all those extra calories.

If home methods don’t work, you could enter your youngster in one of the weight-loss camps, especially fashioned to deal with fat loss and self-esteem issues in youngsters between the ages of seven and nineteen. A camp like this might be the solution to your prayers.

Let your child pursue the example you set. If you desist from eating unhealthy food or indulge in emotional consumption of food, your kid will then automatically learn from you and do the same.

You will detect a change in your youngster if you follow these not complicated techniques. Your child will conduct himself or herself with self-assurance as he or she sheds those additional pounds. His or her relationships at school will better when all the teasing comes to a halt.

Obesity Is No Laughing Matter, Rid Your Youngster Of The Weight

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Among the most unfortunate outcomes of modern-day living is severe overweight amongst our youngsters. The large bodies of these minors do not let them frolic merrily with the other children. Food reduction, and also fighting the self-respect troubles that fleshiness typically wreaks, constitutes an out-and-out must for weighty kids.

If you’ve an excessively fat youngster, you should test every method conceivable to get him or her to drop that extra weight so that he or she can live a regular life. First of all, you have to talk to your doctor about the most healthful technique for your kid to not only reduce weight, but also sustain his or her health.

To be blunt, if you waver to take the essential steps necessary to enable your child to shed that excess weight, You’ll put your kid’s health at risk. As we do not permit our youngsters to play on the motorway or handle firearms, why in heaven should we let them kill themselves by feeding on junk foods?

If you have an corpulent youngster, the succeeding tips will be a big help to you:

Do not penalize or reward your kid with food. Love of food is one the leading problems your youngster has to face, and using it as a penalty or incentive will simply aggravate the problem.

Encourage your youngster to eat healthy nutritious food instead of fast foods. There is a definite correlation between the excessive eating of fast food and obesity. Do not store any junk food in the home.

You must pack your child’s lunch pack so that you are aware of what he or she eats. Don’t allow the kid to buy any food in school.

At all times see that your youngster does not eat any unhealthy food outside the home.

Child obesity prevention may mean you have to switch the food habits of the entire household. Rather than eating fried snacks, eat healthy fruit and nut snacks. Your youngster demands fresh fruits, raw vegetables, or fresh yogurt.

Consider the food pyramid if you question your youngster’s food needs. This will make sure that you give your offspring a good and well balanced diet.

See that you child does not consume any soft drinks. You will have to face up to a lot of rebellion initially, but your kid will develop an lasting love for water. Water not only preserves a sense of fullness, but also destroys fat.

Introduce a lot of bodily activity into your kid’s existence. Child obesity and exercise seems to be mutually exclusive, more exercise means that it is unlikely that your child will remain obese. Encourage them to join a dancing class, go for a extended walk, jog, run, or play soccer or some strongly physical sport.

Don’t permit your child to be a couch potato. Keep him or her from playing video and PC games. See that your kid is always active. Encouraging the child to be active means that he or she now has a wholesome alternative to over-eating. It also means that he or she is burning up all those additional calories.

If home methods don’t work, you could enrol your kid in one of the weight-reduction camps, specially designed to deal with weight loss and self-respect issues in kids between the years of seven and nineteen. A camp like this might be the solution to your prayers.

Let your youngster pursue the example you set. If you refrain from using junk food or indulge in emotional eating, your youngster will then automatically learn from you and do the same.

You will detect a change in your child if you follow these not complicated techniques. Your kid will behave with more confidence as he or she shakes off those extra pounds. His or her relationships at school will better when all the teasing comes to a halt.

The Child Obesity Epidemic Must Be Tackled Urgently All Over The Globe

Monday, May 25th, 2009

Lately the worldwide problem of a high childhood obesity rate is more and more prominent in all the news media. If a child is obese it can lead to serious health issues for the child like diabetes, hyperlipidemia, heart health issues, lack of sufficient bone density, sleep disorders and problems, psychological problems and symptoms and gastro-intestinal spasms. These abnormalities will in all likelyhood continue into puberty and adulthood. Research has unfortunately shown that obese children has a much higher risk than other people to turn into obese adults.

Despite all the above, it is possible for parents to make a positive impact on the lifestyle of their offspring and give them the guidance that will ensure a happy and healthy adulthood.

What role can parents play to have a positive impact on obesity amongst children? Parents must address the causes of child obesity. Parents must pay attention to their kids and help them to feel that they belong and that they are in a secure environment. Children that are neglected by their parents have a much higher likelyhood of obesity than their peers. Be sure not to force your kids to eat more than they feel like at mealtime, all you will achieve is to train your child’s metabolic system to make your child eat more than he or she needs.

The amount of food eaten is not what is most important. It is much more important that the child must eat healthy food and then also get sufficient exercise to burn of the calories. Your kid will acquire abnormal eating behaviours if you are going to be constantly fussing about food intake.

Your child should not spend so much time in front of the telly. As your child spends more time in front of the TV so he or she will be more obese,TV obviously reduces physical activity, and then it naturally also reduces the body’s metabolism. Children also watch the commercials on television and it affect them, and they are encouraged to eat more junk food and drink soft drinks that will have one result only and that is increased weight.

If you are thinking that your child weighs more than his or her ideal weight and that there is a risk of obesity, consult with a physician as soon as you can, and stop obesity in its tracks immediately. It is a myth that mothers to be have to eat for two people, too much food while you are pregnant just dramatically increases the possibility that both you and your unborn child will in future become obese. Your newborn should be breastfeeded for a period of not less than one year. With your infant still very young, there should be strong emphasis on fruits, grains and other fresh produce while closely watching to see if the child is really hungry before being fed.

If the risk that your child will become obese is high, you should consider using fat free milk instead of full cream milk. Sugar and fat containing snacks must be avoided, because they are very high in calories. If your kid is still at school, put in place steadfast rules as to how much they are allowed to watch television, snacks may only be of the healthy variety, treats can be allowed occasionally and generally good food habits must be encouraged.

The child obesity epidemic is not static, it keeps on increasing with each passing year and, since 1981, there has been an alarming increase. The childhood obesity epidemic poses a great risk to our children’s children, and it must now be halted in its tracks all over the developed world.