An Insight on Rising Childhood Obesity and How Can It Be Prevented

Childhood obesity is one of the major issues these days as it has extended its roots. Childhood obesity is known as a serious medical ailment in which a child is overweight in comparison to the weight as per his or her age and height. Excess weight in childhood can lead to various health problems and that is why it is extremely important to tackle this dispute.

Numerous factors like the environment in which the child is conceived, born and raised play a pivotal role in developing the risks of childhood obesity. Proper treatment of obesity can save the health of the child while reducing the risk of health complications.

Health ailments related to childhood obesity
Obesity is very harmful to children and children who are obese are more prone to various health ailments than those who are not. Childhood obesity can increase the risk of:

• Hypertension and high cholesterol levels
• Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
• Various cardiovascular diseases
• Breathing problems like sleep apnea and asthma
• Psychological problems like stress, anxiety and low self-confidence.
• Different Types of Cancer

Factors that play a huge role
The body weight is different in different age and putting on too much weight in a very less period of time can be a matter of concern. There could be various reasons for it- environmental factors, lifestyle preferences, and cultural environment. The body mass index (BMI), which tells the weight by keeping in view the height of the kid is the recognized measure to know whether your kid is actually overweight or not. Gestational diabetes during pregnancy is a great factor that can lead to increased birth weight and can also increase the risk of obesity in future. Not only this, but the digitalization also plays a huge role in cutting down the physical activities from the life of the child which further leads to obesity.

Prevention of childhood obesity
There are various steps a parent can take to prevent childhood obesity and other health ailments related to that.

• Include a healthy diet: Incorporating a healthy and nutritious diet in the lifestyle of your kid is the first and foremost step towards healthiness. Addition of green leafy veggies, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds in the diet of your kid can boost the overall health and provide fewer fats and more of fibre which is quintessential in maintaining a healthy weight.
• Teach kids about the portion control: Telling the importance of portion control to your kid is a great way to control their appetite. Controlling the portion reduces the intake of calories in one go and helps in proper digestion which further aids in losing weight. Serve 4-5 smaller meals to your kid for effective results.
• Incorporate an exercise regimen: Make sure that your kid indulges in 30-45 minutes of exercise regime on a regular basis. It not only helps in shedding the extra pounds around the body but also decreases the risk of various types of diseases. A regular session of different activities like cycling, walking, running, aerobics and yoga are effective in preventing childhood obesity.
• Water: Water helps in flushing out the toxins from the body and reduce the cravings of junkies or sugary food items that can lead to weight gain. Staying hydrated throughout the day is extremely important for the effective functioning of the body.

Footnote
Prevention of childhood obesity is extremely important to minimise the risk of various diseases. Incorporate some healthy lifestyle changes in your child’s routine and do consult a doctor if your child is gaining too much weight in a short span of time.