Why The Rise in Childhood Obesity

According to figures from the World Health Organization an estimated 22 million children worldwide under the age of five are overweight. Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions.

Over the last thirty years obesity has tripled in the United States in children aged between 6 and 11. Increases in the prevalence of overweight are also being seen in younger children, including preschoolers.

The International Obesity Task Force, amazingly  in some parts of Africa more children suffer from obesity than malnutrition. In 2007 Mexico was just behind the world`s biggest culprit, the US, for childhood obesity.

In England close to one in four adults are classified as obese. The worrying prediction is that by 2050 only one in ten people will be at a healthy weight. It`s a timebomb ticking away.

 

Marks & Spencer’s in the UK have brought out a new range of super-size school uniforms for children as young as four.

23in waist trousers for youngsters are available for children just starting primary school – a size normally worn by eight-year-olds.

But the store, which as yet is selling its Plus range online only, claimed that demand from parents was “significant.”

I think many will be shocked that we now have children who are so big they have to have oversized clothes when they are just starting junior school.

Why the concern?
There are several health risks associated with obesity. Diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and heart disease are the main three. One doctor, Dr Rebecca Din-Dzietham of the Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia, USA, warns that "Unless this upward trend in high blood pressure is reversed, we could be facing an explosion of new cardiovascular disease cases in young adults and adults."

The causes
Without doubt genetics have a role to play in childhood obesity. But, the blame can`t all be laid at the door of genetics. It would be unwise to assume that this problem is inherited, therefore nothing can be done about it. The facts are that in many cases it`s down to children eating too much and exercising too little.

Foods
Nowadays many more parents than a generation ago are going out to work. As a result they don`t have the time, nor sometimes the energy, to prepare wholesome, healthy meals. Sales of `fast-foods` are on the rise. One study has shown that in the U.S. almost a third of all children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food every day. The problem with these foods is that many are high in fat and sugar which obviously don`t do much for the waistline.

Soft drinks are very popular, particularly among young ones. At one time the normal drink would have been water, or milk, with the occasional soft drink being consumed. But today water and milk are not always the first choice for children. Soft drinks often have a high content of sugar in them, even the so-called `low calorie` drinks.

Exercise
Decades ago many children would come home from school and go out to play. That way they`d get plenty of exercise outside. Nowadays though with the rise in crime many parents are reluctant to allow their children outside on their own for fear of violence.

In addition, television and playing computer games have taken the place of playing games outside, such as softball, soccer or cycling. Children are reportedly spending many hours on their sofa watching TV, or in front of thier computers playing games. No wonder our kids are becoming overweight to the point of obesity.

                                                          

Parents can help
Fruit and vegetables are healthy, and most aren`t going to make children put on weight. If children like soft drinks, limit their intake, as well as reducing how much sugary snacks they eat.

Frying foods is one of the less healthy ways to cook. Instead, could you use an alternative method such as boiling, steaming, or grilling?

Serving smaller portions sounds obvious, but the stomach will get used to smaller amounts and a child will feel less hungry over time as he or she eats less.

Breakfasts are important. They set you up for the day. If breakfast is skipped it may mean a child will want to eat more later in the day to make up.

If you sit in front of the TV, or computer to eat, you concentrate less on your food, and that can mean you aren`t fully aware of how full up you are getting. So, better to sit at the table to eat.

Encourage your children to exercise. If they play they`ll have fun and enjoy what they are doing. Skipping, jumping over ropes, cycling, swimming etc are all good forms of exercising. Family outings to the park are an ideal time which if done in a planned way will benefit the whole family.

Set a limit on how much time they can spend on the computer, or watching TV.

Children learn from their parents. Set a good example in healthy eating and balanced exercise and your children are more likely to accept what you say, and to follow your example.

The next generation is sitting on an obesity time bomb, and we all can have a part to play in stemming the rise in childhood and adult obesity.







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