.%20BMI%20is%20the%20measurement%20of%20a%20person's%20weight%20in...){kind=link}
Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Childhood Obesity Epidemic
What is obesity?
Obesity is defined by an accumulation of excess body fat. There are different criteria to determine if a child is considered obese. Two of the more common methods are measuring skin-fold thickness, which classifies a child as overweight if he or she has at least 25-30 percent body fat, and using Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is the measurement of a person's weight in relation to his or her height. To calculate BMI, multiply the person's weight in pounds and divide that by the square of his or her height in inches. For adults, overweight is a BMI greater than 25; obese is a BMI greater than 30. Growth charts from the CDC are used to calculate a child's BMI based on sex and age because of changes during growth and development. A child is considered overweight if his or her BMI is at or above the 85th percentile; they are considered obese if the BMI is at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. Your local pediatrician can provide useful insight into your child's potential for obesity-related health risks.
How did this happen?
There are a number of factors that have contributed to the childhood obesity epidemic. The tendency for a child to be overweight can actually start before birth. If the mother uses tobacco, gains excessive weight or has diabetes, that child has an increased risk of being obese during the preschool years.
Other contributing factors are the changes in the American lifestyle over the last 30 years. This includes eating more fast foods, convenience foods and processed foods, as well as drinking more sugar-laden beverages. Often, families don't sit down together to have dinner anymore. Dinner is on the run and fit in between activities, which usually means going through the fast food drive-in. Add this factor to the decrease of exercise children are getting because of an increase in sedentary activities like TV viewing, playing video games, and socializing on a computer or cell phone. Also, children rarely walk or bike to schools anymore. They are driven or take the bus. Children who watch a lot of TV are also more likely to snack; plus, getting too much "screen" time has been associated with children getting less and poorer quality sleep. Insufficient sleep has been linked to a risk of obesity.
Children whose parents are overweight or obese are also at risk. The parents are not living a healthful lifestyle and that becomes the child's role model. Surprisingly, psychological factors are a contributing factor. Overeating is a way to cope with problems or stress, and children start to use food as a way to feel better about their situations at home or at school. Finally, there are socioeconomic factors. Children of low-income families are at risk due to fewer resources and less time to make exercise and eating well a priority.
What can be done about childhood obesity?
Find a noncompetitive activity in which your child or you and your child can participate.
Learn a new, active skill together. Consider swimming or biking.
Take a dance class. Organize an obstacle course or scavenger hunt around the house or neighborhood.
Avoid negative self-talk when in the presence of children and strive to focus on the positive. If you are trying to lose weight or get in shape, speak about your efforts constructively ask for help in sticking to your exercise plan or assistance with planning healthful meals.
Sit down to meals together, where you can collectively enjoy nutritious food as well as each other's company. Set a goal as a family to eat a certain number of meals together weekly, not restricted solely to dinner.
While limiting TV and computer time is a wise idea, eliminating eating while watching TV or working on the computer is a great strategy to increase nutritional mindfulness.
Allow children to choose recipes or an ingredient from which a meal can be generated. The more invested they are in their food choices, the likelier they are to eat and enjoy them.
Visit a farm or farmers' market to bring children raised in an era of convenience a step closer to the source of their sustenance.
Experiment. Different things work for different people when it comes to lifestyle changes. Be open-minded about new activities, foods or routines. You never know what you might discover.
In this age of technology, we are more virtually connected but have far less physical connection with one another than at any point in history. Food and activity have always been part of social gatherings and celebrations. In modern times, we have allowed gatherings to become a source of stress for many. Take the stress out of the equation, bring the fun back and enjoy some healthful time with family and friends. Welcome DIARY OF A WIMPY KID join the Blu-ray on August Chandeliers For Children's Bedrooms Pinpointing Child Support in Michigan Teenage Dating Tips How To Make A Woman Orgasm Using This 1 Simple Technique Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel System - Take The Hassle Out Of Traveling With Your Child! Advice Dating Man More One Than Talking To Kids About Sex Investigator's Evidence Can Influence Child Custody Decisions Danish Ronaldinho 14-year-old child prodigy turned out quite similar to King Milan SYMA S107 Helicopters - What Makes This Particular Remote Control Aircraft Popular To Kids? Trendy Baby Boy Bedding For All Tastes The World of Physics Toys Nutrition Improvements For Lunchtime. Make The Grade For Mom And Kids Wide Baby Gate - For Your Child's Protection