Childhood obesity is an international problem over the past few decades, stemming from sedentary lifestyles because more children sit around playing on their computers, tablets and cellular phones than do physical exercise.
Why Childhood Obesity is considered a Health Problem
Childhood obesity is considered a huge health problem because it could lead to various other health problems including type 2 diabetes; asthma; sleep apnoea; heart disease caused by high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure, and even social discrimination.
Obesity in children can lead to them being at risk for weight-related health problems when they reach adulthood. They can also suffer from psychosocial risks due to being targets of early and systematic social discrimination based on their weight. Children can be cruel, and the constant teasing or bullying of others could cause the overweight child to suffer stress which could lead to low self-esteem and hinder academic function, which would result in more stigmatisation that could persist into adulthood.
How to Prevent Childhood Overweight and Obesity
Helping your children to maintain a healthy weight is not that difficult, if it is done correctly. The aim is not to put your child on a diet, because dieting is not healthy for growing children. It is far better that you work out a plan to reduce the rate of weight gain while still allowing for normal growth and development.
Teach your children to eat a balanced meal that contains an appropriate number of calories and provides adequate nutrition. Provide them with plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products, including low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein. Limit the consumption of sugar and saturated fats, and serve reasonably-sized portions.
One of the best things you can do for your children is to teach them the value of water for their bodies. Tell them that is it vital that they drink water regularly in order to keep their bodies hydrated and in peak working condition. Explain to them that the body consists of about 75% water and that without this water their bodies will not be able to grow or function, as every single cell in the body needs water to work.
Explain to them, with a picture if possible, how the water is spread throughout their body;
- The skin is 64% water; if we do not drink water regularly enough our skins get dried out and shrivel and become wrinkled like old people;
- The brain is 85% water, and when we do not drink enough water it cannot work properly, making us unable to do even simple mathematical calculations;
- Our bones contain 31% water, without which they would not be able to grow;
- Kidneys contain around 79% water, without which we cannot urinate, which means that we cannot get rid of toxins in our body;
- Muscles are made up of 79% water; if we do not drink water regularly they will become weak and cease to grow or function
Teach your children that drinking water is not only good for their bodies in order to help them work well, but is also a good way to maintain a good weight, especially if one drinks water before a meal. Water is one of the best dietary suppressants around, because when we drink water before a meal it fills us up so we eat less. Drinking water instead of sugary drinks also helps us not to put on weight and keeps our insulin levels steady and controllable.
If your children have a problem drinking water, try adding fresh fruit to their water; invest in a water cooler that dispenses pure, chilled water whenever required; inform them of fruits that are water-heavy such as watermelon that they can eat to add to their fluid intake, and make them iced lollies using filtered water and fresh fruit.
Water is one of your best weapons to fight childhood obesity and keep your children healthy, and it costs next to nothing, so make sure that your children are drinking water every day, all day!
Source:
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