subject: What is Obesity? What is Childhood Obesity? [print this page] What is Obesity? What is Childhood Obesity?
You gain a few pounds and most people would agree that you are not obese. But it might indicate that you gain weight easily and your diet/weight program might need an adjustment. A child is not obese until their weight is 10 percent higher than is recommended for their height and body type. So what is obesity? What is childhood obesity?
Childhood obesity usually occurs around 5-6 years of age or in adolescence. If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that the children will become obese too. But if both parents are obese, the chance of their children becoming obese jumps to 80 percent.
There are many causes that contribute to obesity:
Lack of exercise
Poor eating habits
Family history
Medications
Family and peer problems (stress)
Low self-esteem
Depression
So what can be done? Where do you start?
Education!
You can not go to battle without a plan. The first step is a thorough medical evaluation by a pediatrician or a family physician. You need to rule out a physical disorder. Once you have ruled out physical disorders you can actually attack the root of the problem. Too much food and not enough exercise for the body type. This is true for adults as well as children.
As a parent you need to provide three things:
1. Healthy meals and snacks
2. A daily physical activity program
3. Nutritional education
Healthy meals and snacks provide nutrition for growing bodies while modeling healthy eating behavior and attitudes. Increased physical activity reduces health risks and helps weight management. Nutrition education helps young children develop an awareness of good nutrition and healthy eating habits for a lifetime.
The good news for your children is you do not have to put them on a diet. By maintaining the weight they now have, they will grow into proper weight for their body type. Not so easy for an adult to do and that's why its so important to jump on this at an early age.
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