Causes and Cures of Obesity in Children by Taylor Christopher What is obesity in children? The definition of childhood obesity is weight above the normal for height and age. Childhood obesity is becoming the biggest epidemic for kids and teens in the world. Approximately 25 million children between the ages of 2-19 in the United States are at risk of becoming overweight or are overweight. Obesity rates have soared among all age groups in the last four decades, increasing more than four times among children ages 6 to 11. Behavioral factors such as artificial feeding (bottle feeding), urban sprawl, dietary fat intake, sweetened drink intake, family eating patterns, growing portion sizes, levels of physical inactivity, computer use, video and television viewing have been identified as major contributing factors for childhood obesity. Obesity is associated with a variety of cardiovascular disease risk factors such as elevated blood pressure, elevated lipid levels, and heightened insulin or glucose levels. All these factors are precursors for heart disease or Type 2 diabetes in young adults. These children are also at increased risk of low self-esteem because of the social emphasis on appearance and being slim. Overweight children have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. Kids and teens that are over weight usually do not have the right knowledge on to how to carry on the best lifestyle possible. Talk to your kids directly, openly and without being critical or judgmental. Here are some suggestions on how to help your child get healthy and lean: Increase Physical Activity Children with lack of parental limitations on television watching and their parents own television viewing habits, were five to ten times more likely to be overweight. Parents who rely heavily on television viewing as a recreational activity should spend more time doing recreational activities at home or at the park. Because kids by nature are physically active, they find ways to get great exercise even on their own. However, parents should take the time to allow children to spend 8 hours a day running around outside. Kids do not walk to school because of fear that something untoward, unpredictable, and dangerous will occur to them. Encouraging them to walk or ride their bikes to school accompanied an adult. You can demonstrate the importance of physical activity by walking or biking with your child. Introduce Healthier Eating Much of what we eat is quick and easy - from fat-laden fast food to microwave and prepackaged meals. Daily schedules are so jam-packed that there is little time to prepare healthier meals or to squeeze in some exercise. However, preventing and treating childhood obesity should involve the whole family. After all, one of the first ways children learn is by imitating. Children should be allowed to select what they want to eat among healthy food choices; they should be allowed to stop eating when they feel full. An underweight, overweight, or normal weight child should be allowed to decide how much to eat or whether to eat at all, within reason. Children and adolescents who frequent fast foods consume more calories, unhealthy fats, sugars and carbohydrates. Many studies have established the dangers of fast food items to childrens health. Cut back or stop going to fast food places If parents find that they cannot help their children lose weight with a nutritious eating plan and physical activity, it may be time to consult a doctor. Overweight children should not be put on a diet unless a physician supervises one for medical reasons. A restrictive diet may not supply the energy and nutrients needed for normal growth and development. Unfortunately, with as much as half of a childs weekly meals provided by schools today, an overhaul of the national school nutrition program is a good place to start addressing the problem. Community-based programs on health and weight loss can all contribute to a healthier lifestyle for kids. Parents can take the initiative to make changes in their community. For example, one parent successfully waged a long campaign to stop her son child-care center from dispensing Froot Loops and Coco Pops for breakfast. Prevention is therefore, key in preparing our children for a healthy adolescence and adulthood. Environment, behavior and genetics all play a role in childhood obesity; the most important thing is to focus on changing those things we can control, like behavior. That is right - the old diet and exercise advice. Health Club Rochester, Rochester Weigh Loss Programs and Rochester Sports Club devote their services to keeping their members fit and healthy. 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