Overweight In Children
Overweight in children has become a worrying phenomenon around the world. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), in the last four decades, the number of obese children and adolescents has increased tenfold. And the trend continues.
This problem speaks about inadequate parental care, as they are the main responsible for the children’s eating patterns . Apparently, they don’t give enough importance to healthy nutrition or don’t set healthy parameters for their children’s diet.
Current lifestyles also have a significant influence on this phenomenon. Excess weight in children tends to occur due to a sedentary lifestyle that is becoming a habit among children and adolescents. On many occasions, sports and physical activities have shifted to entertainment through electronic devices.
How to establish overweight in children?
It is not so easy for parents to determine when their children are overweight. The growth process causes the little ones’ bodies to change continuously. The volume of body fat also changes constantly and is different for boys and girls.
The most reliable way to know if children are overweight is to calculate their body mass index (BMI). This is a measure of body weight in relation to height. There are several websites and applications that allow you to do this calculation. Only age, weight and height are needed.
The result of this calculation is a number that is compared to the BMI of other children of the same age, thus obtaining the percentile:
- A percentile from 5 to 84 suggests that the weight is normal and healthy.
- Between 85 and 94, we talked about overweight in children.
- A 95th percentile or higher indicates obesity.
Causes of the problem
The main cause of overweight and obesity in children is the lack of proper guidance on the part of parents. They have less and less time with their children and adopt unhealthy habits, offering fast food, the fast foods that are usually not very nutritious.
They also don’t have enough time and dedication to teach their children to eat healthily. Thus, children do not understand that certain foods are essential for normal growth and development.
Added to this is the lack of physical activity in children and adolescents. Currently, most activities are focused on television, video games and computers. This sedentary lifestyle, together with bad eating habits, form the ideal structure for the appearance of excess weight.
Risks of overweight in children
Being overweight in children makes them more prone to illness, both now and in the future. First, they are more likely to become overweight in adulthood, with all the consequences that entails.
Likewise, obese children are at a higher risk for musculoskeletal problems. Back pain and changes in the lumbar spine and lower extremities are common. Gait may be affected and orthopedic problems are more likely.
On the other hand, these children are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension. Not to mention the psychological effects that this condition generates. Often, overweight children are bullied and bullied by their peers at school.
Prevention and care
Parents should be aware of the importance of developing proper eating patterns. It is important that they provide nutritious meals and prevent the little ones from consuming “fast food” as well as soft drinks and highly processed or sugary drinks.
Parents should be an example to their children. If they eat healthily, the short ones will certainly start imitating them spontaneously. On the other hand, it is also important to talk to children about the importance of healthy nutrition.
It is also very important that you encourage your children to be physically active. The best way to do this is to invite them to share time in the park or encourage them to play a sport. Healthy habits must be promoted in the family, and the best tool is example.
