Taking a pro-active approach to childhood obesity

It is now estimated that one in every 10 children is clinically obese.

The problem of childhood obesity has steadily risen over the past two decades and is now of increasing concern to health professionals and governments worldwide.

Doctors and scientists are concerned because the long-term implications are dire – an increased risk of heart disease caused by high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, asthma and sleep apnea, not to mention the psychological effects of social discrimination.

Recent population based studies in the U.S. have revealed that almost 60% of overweight children had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor while 25% had two or more risk factors. Additionally, studies have also shown that obese children and teens are likely to remain obese as adults and will suffer greatly increased health problems as they age.

The cause of this worrying epidemic has been blamed on our changing lifestyles over the past few decades. Gone are the days of time-consuming household chores and physical work—even such mundane tasks as drying the dishes burn calories. We are living in an age of convenience and ease. Our children are certainly less active, preferring to watch television or play computer games than ride bikes or play ball games like we did.

Not only are our children doing less exercise than we did, they are consuming more calories creating an unhealthy imbalance between calorific intake and expenditure. Most of us enjoyed occasional treats as a child but many children now expect those treats on an almost daily basis. Our modern diet is laden with fat, sugar and sodium and we frequently indulge in fast foods and poor choices to save time and money.

So what can we do to stem this rising tide and ensure that our children have the best possible chance of a healthy life? 

As a parent you can do a lot to educate your child and help them develop a healthy lifestyle. Parents are the most important teachers and role models for their children. By taking the stairs instead of the escalator, choosing fruits and vegetables over fatty snacks, or drinking water instead of soda, you can help guide your child by example.

Simple things such as discussing different food groups with your child and explaining why certain foods are better than others leaves an impression. Kids learn about the food pyramid at school but they are more likely to listen to you and follow your lead. Discuss portion control, the importance of fruits and vegetable in providing growing bodies with nutrients, the benefits of eating slowly and other ideas that will help your child better understand diet and nutrition.

Engage your child in cooking dinner on the weekends and talk about the ingredients as you prepare them. You’ll be surprised at how much you both enjoy this activity and it’s a great way to introduce new foods. Kids will always be willing to try something different if they have had a hand in preparing it. 

Don’t forget kids need at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week. Anything from playing tag at school, walking to and from school, playing soccer, swimming, dancing or playing qualifies as exercise. The benefits of regular physical activity include strengthening bones, decreasing blood pressure, reducing stress and anxiety, increasing self-esteem and helping with weight management. 

In addition to encouraging physical activity, you can help children avoid too much sedentary time. Limit ‘media time’ to two hours per day. Homework and reading is to be encouraged but computer, gaming and TV time should be kept to a reasonable level and there’s a whole host of other reasons to do this, not just because of the lack of activity.

Changing ingrained habits and attitudes can take time but the benefits of taking a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle for you and your family will be immeasurable. Help is at hand through your health professional, pediatrician or clinic and there are many effective weight management programmes available that offer guidance and support. Taking a pro-active approach early on can help ensure a lifetime of good habits and good health.