Childhood obesity is a problem in the Western world like never before. Children in underdeveloped countries struggle to get enough food to keep them alive whilst our children are eating more and more it seems. Western children over the last thirty years have shown an increase in numbers of obesity by at least 100% and the trend looks set to continue.
Some children slim down and outgrow their obesity as they get older, but many do not, perhaps because of a sedentary lifestyle, or perhaps due to an inherited tendency towards being fat. It may well be a combination of both.
What are the causes of this problem? In short it is suggested that an increasing lack of exercise plus an inappropriate diet is to blame.
Maybe parents are partly to blame, but they are caught in a dilemma. They want, as responsible parents to ensure that their kids are eating enough but they don't want them to get fat and overweight. They may well err on the side of over feeding their offspring, and this habit can start from when the child is still a baby. Encouraging a baby to have a sweet tooth by feeding overly sweet foods can be the start of a conditioning process that can affect the child right through life. A tendency to favour sugary foods and drinks is a major cause of overweight amongst schoolchildren. They buy junk foods and sodas that fill them with calories, and then may be loathe to eat their proper meal in the evening.
Another factor is the increasing habit of families not sitting down together for meals, but rather taking them on the run. This leads inevitably to more reliance on fast foods that are quick and easy to prepare but which are often high in fat and carbohydrates. Most processed foods and ready meals have very high levels of sugar and fat, unhealthy fat, and low levels of protein and vitamins. It is essential for a growing child to eat properly prepared meals from fresh ingredients.
Many children have a natural aversion to vegetables and this has long been the case, but it is possible to incorporate vegetables into many nutritious dishes like shepherd's pie so that they are part of the meal and can't be separated out. Many children will eat fruit if encouraged and if it is presented in an attractive way.
How can we stop our children getting fat? Some tips are as follows:
• It is important to establish good eating habits from an early age and encourage your child to eat healthy foods whilst restricting sugar and saturated fats - these are the two main causes of weight gain.
• Encourage your child to be active and to play outside as much as possible. Even a young child can enjoy playing with a ball, skipping, running, and dancing. As your child grows older, encourage him or her to join in sports at school or take up physical activities like dance classes or swimming.
• Consider restricting your child's time in front of the television and/or computer. Some children if left to their own devices will sit for hours watching TV or playing computer games with little or no benefit to show from it.
• Try to get your child to play with other children, either in your or their home. When children are together they are naturally sociable and inventive, and will be much more active than if by themselves.
• Give your child pocket money only on the condition that he or she does not spend it on sweets or junk foods. Encourage your child to save towards something worthwhile, or, failing that, allow the money to be spent on something tangible like comics or books.
• Encourage your child to be active and to play outside as much as possible. Even a young child can enjoy playing with a ball, skipping, running, and dancing. As your child grows older, encourage him or her to join in sports at school or take up physical activities like dance classes or swimming.
• Consider restricting your child's time in front of the television and/or computer. Some children if left to their own devices will sit for hours watching TV or playing computer games with little or no benefit to show from it.
• Try to get your child to play with other children, either in your or their home. When children are together they are naturally sociable and inventive, and will be much more active than if by themselves.
• Give your child pocket money only on the condition that he or she does not spend it on sweets or junk foods. Encourage your child to save towards something worthwhile, or, failing that, allow the money to be spent on something tangible like comics or books.
The modern world tends to encourage inactivity because of the tremendous emphasis on computers and media of all sorts but it is still possible to appeal to a child's innate tendency to enjoy physical games and sports. Encouragement of physical activity plus a healthy diet can go a long way towards protecting your child from obesity, now, and in the future.
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