Statistics released by National Center for Health Statistics indicate about 19 percent of kids aged 6-11 years in America are obese while 17 percent of teenage boys and girls aged 12-19 years are obese. The number of obese cases in the United States is considered higher than it was 15 years ago, an increase reported in both boys and girls. Children who become obese during their adolescent years are likely to carry on this problem to adulthood.
Meaning of obesity.
Obesity is best defined as general increase of fat in the body. To find out if a child is obese, one needs to measure weight and height of a child. A child who is obese is one who records a major difference in height and weight. Overweight is a state where the size of the body increases with a higher lean body mass minus excess build-up of body fat. Researchers have not found a suitable standard that can be used to differentiate obesity and overweight, although it has been suggested that kids are likely to pass the problem to adulthood.
Causes of obesity in kids.
a) They can easily access fat-rich foods.
b) The altitude of parents as regards to foods.
c) Rise in fast foods restaurants.
d) Promising kid’s food in order to make them change their behaviors.
e) Absence of workouts.
f) Eating snacks and watching movies.
g) Lack of information on healthy eating habits.
h) Hereditary traits such as parent’s size and height.
Managing weight in kids.
The foundation under which the problem of obesity among kids and adolescents can be tackled is through a change of eating habits as well as through exercising. It starts with the willingness among both parents and kids to effect the necessary changes that go with a lifestyle change. Usually, weight loss is not a recommendation in young kids who are in their developing stages. In such kids, the aim would be to maintain their weight as their height increases. Weight reduction is only an option in adolescents who are fully grown. Below are guidelines in helping your kids remain healthy as they grow.
For kids below two years-:
a) The aim is to lower weight increase rather than to reduce the present weight.
b) Cut down juice intake to 4 ounces per day.
c) Cut down on consumption of high calorie diets such as chips and ice-cream.
d) Utilize the services of a pacifier between meals to discourage the kids from sucking anything.
e) Seek the help of a nutritionist.
f) Keep a close look at any increase in weight.