Obesity in children. Causes and possible solutions.

I'm farther more concern now of obesity in children than in adults, due to all the statistics we hear off, though it's just to the sight of the eye. Have you seen how many children are obese by just taking a look around? So, what causes it and how can we solve the problem? And furthermore, how can we prevent it without making them fall into an eating disorder?

It's not just about the extra weight, is about their health.

We all know extra weight comes with extra problems like: high blood pressure, risks for cancer, the cardiovascular system and the heart, or for developing other chronic degenerative diseases like type II Diabetes.

As a parent, when should I start concerning about overweight or obesity in my child?

Have you thought: -Well, my child is too young right now. So, when should I start concerning about this issue?. I don't mean to sound rude or exaggerated, but studies show that from the very moment that the child is inside the mother before birth, his overall development will help him/her for the years to come.

Since babies, whatever lifestyle you show them up, they will learn. Which habits you'd like them to develop? Which don't?

Solid settlements for a healthier development.

1) Nursing time.

It's starting to be more common not to breastfeed, but it's so proven now that the baby gains a "great start" health card for the rest of his/her life. Independent of the duration of the breastfeeding is how you feed the baby: Are any fruits and veggies on the meals? Do you cook the foods or are they processed?

If you aren't nursing, don't worry, your kids are not doomed. Obesity in children might stay away by the choices you make and show them to have. Smarter ones will put the settlements for the upcoming years. Take advantage of the transition period from milk to solids, introduce good foods from the very beginning.

3) Smart choices come with love.

Let's think with love: Does your child or any of your family deserves a "pick up meal" or a "loaded with chemicals meal" ? (that includes sweets and candies). If you like to pamper your kids, try good foods instead, show them to appreciate the healthy meals and hug them a lot.

Please include healthy foods for lunch at school, if we can't fight vending machines products poor nutrient content, show them to make smarter choices.

In a little poll I made here at Lifetime Fitness Nutrition website, people answered about lunch at school the following:

Out of 41 responses:

How nourishing are the lunches served at school?

12%.- Nutritious and balanced.

20%.- With some nutritious food.

27%.- Short of nutritious food. (The winner is!)

12%.- Without nutritious food.

29%.- Unable to Answer. (Maybe they don't even know what is served for lunch or what the kids are buying).

Just forgetting!! Water better than any soft drink.

4) Keep the portions right.

There's no need to "supersize" the meals, I was surprised when sitting watching my kid playing at an "M" restaurant (having a bottle of water) and staring at the "menu's nutritional value"... (If you can call it that way).

One "Happy something Meal" accounted for 1,000 calories for a kid!!! No need to add the ice cream's extra 400 calories! Imagine asking for a Big or "Oh my god" size soda!! and not the regular size. It's not about "filling them", it's about nourishing and caring.

5) Let them decide when they fill satisfied.

As parents we're always concerned to see our children eat well, and sometimes we misunderstand "eating well" with finishing all the food (if you come like my mom from a town like Chihuahua, I don't expect the servings to be small), so keep proportion, let them decide how much they can eat.

6) Make mealtimes a pleasurable social or family moment.

Eating on the run is what we're all learning today. A bad habit we now. What are the important things in life? I'm not talking about the urgencies, I'm talking of what gives real sense to our living.

One of the reasons for obesity in children, is the lack of time to prepare foods and share with the family. We're always rushing and solving with "fast foods or processed". There's no other way to solve it but with a little planning, giving time to what really matters.

Against not having time to cook so that you visit the Fast Food Restaurants

Treatment

1) Certainly prevention is better than intervention.

It's sad to see how stigmatic obesity can be for children, and beyond that, it's been proven that the risk of becoming an obese adult is higher than for kids who doesn't have an issue with weight. That's why prevention is best.

2) What to do when the problem is there.

The expert clinician should become with strategies such as:

a) First to identify if there is an existent obesity-related syndrome. Obviously if there isn't any, follow through to:

b) There must be an examination and the clinician must take time to assure the kid about his/her personal worth and physical well-being. Very important if all other persons have implied the kid with things like: poor self-control, etc.

c) Many clinicians can't resist the temptation to prescribe in a casual manner a low calorie diet and increased exercise. But the overweight must not be assumed as a casual thing, we all know that not giving it a concious plan will certainly drive to failure and frustration of kids and parents.

d) There are many weight loss-exercise programs not with wrong intentions but certainly not always best proven results, referral to any program must be made with a serious thought and evaluation.

e) Kids are susceptible to "weight issues phobias", many even being in normal or underweight easily fall into conducts that might lead to eating disorders, it is a fact that adults must be alert to conduct stresses and search for adequate help if needed.

f) Interventions for the child and the family seem to offer best results than an isolated intervention, these might have a long term value for everyone. Motivation raises between the family if they make the needed changes regarding diet, activity, communication, etc.

Until more effective programs are researched or merge, we have to take the prudent advice of playing the preventive measures that may avoid possible overweight or obesity.

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