In recent years, childhood obesity has become a concern among youngsters. Lifestyle and food habits are the ones to blame the growing concern of obesity. Let us explore the healthy habits that help in early childhood obesity prevention.
What is childhood obesity?
Childhood obesity is a long-term condition where a child weighs more than what is considered healthy for their age, height, and gender. In terms of medicine, it is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) in children two years of age and older that is at or above the 95th percentile for their age and gender.
Children’s BMI is different from that of adults because their bodies change as they grow. For kids, BMI is specific to their age and gender. Healthcare providers use special growth charts to determine what a healthy BMI is for children.
Is childhood obesity common?
A few years back childhood obesity was never a concern. But with the advancements in lifestyle and free access to several packaged foods, in recent years childhood obesity has seen a serious growth trend. Several statistics show that in India alone there are about 12.5 million children who are considered overweight or obese. And these numbers are only bound to increase without proper supervision or care leading to the onset of several adult health conditions in children.
What are the possible causes of childhood obesity?
Childhood obesity is a complicated condition influenced by various factors. Children need a certain number of calories for healthy growth and development, but when they consume more calories than they burn, the excess is stored as body fat.
Many factors influence how much we eat, the types of food we choose, and how our bodies use that energy. Each child’s body and circumstances are different, and some children are more prone to gaining weight than others. It is not a lack of willpower or laziness that leads to obesity.
What are the common symptoms of childhood obesity?
When a child shows excessive weight for his age, it is considered as childhood obesity. But you can also notice additional symptoms in children. And few common childhood obesity symptoms can include:
- Tiredness with minimal activity
- Constant sweating
- Acid reflux
- Joint pain
- Shortness of breath
- Puberty related issues
With regards to the age of the child a pediatrician will check the child’s BMI to rule out obesity. In case your child is experiencing these symptoms then it is important to consult a childhood obesity specialist in Coimbatore.
Why is childhood obesity treatment important?
Obesity is a long-term condition that often requires ongoing management. Children who are overweight or obese are likely to remain so as adults. Additionally, childhood obesity raises the risk of developing related health issues earlier in life, such as:
Asthma:
Children with obesity, like adults, are more likely to develop long-term lung inflammation.
Joint pain:
Excess weight puts extra stress on the lower joints, which can cause cartilage to wear down sooner and reduce flexibility.
Heart disease:
People with obesity often have higher cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of heart disease.
Sleep disorders:
Overweight or obese children are more likely to develop sleep apnea.
Type 2 diabetes:
Overweight children and teens are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which can be reversed with lifestyle changes.
If obesity is not addressed, especially in teens, it can impact a child’s mental health. This can result in anxiety or depression and may also lead to bullying and social isolation.
How is childhood obesity diagnosed?
Pediatricians usually identify overweight and obesity during regular check-ups using BMI-for-age growth charts to track a child’s size and growth. While a high BMI can suggest higher body fat, it doesn’t measure body fat directly. Instead, it signals that further tests may be needed to check for excess body fat. The BMI percentile cutoffs help determine if your child is at higher risk for weight-related health problems.
Your child’s pediatrician will conduct a physical exam and ask about your child’s health history, habits, and environment. They may also order additional tests, such as blood tests or imaging, to look for underlying causes of obesity and any related health issues.
What are the top 6 ways to stop childhood obesity?
Encourage your child to drink water:
- Staying hydrated can help reduce feelings of hunger, as sometimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger.
- If your children feel hungry shortly after eating, try giving them water to see if it eases their hunger.
- Water is also an affordable and healthy alternative to sugary drinks like sodas and fruit juices, which are often marketed to kids.
- Stop buying sugary drinks and encourage your children to drink only water.
- If they don’t like the taste of plain water, try adding natural, healthy flavorings like limes, lemons, or oranges to make it more enjoyable.
Limit screen time:
- Television shows, movies, video games, and smartphones can contribute to childhood obesity by encouraging a sedentary lifestyle.
- They often expose children to ads for junk food and other gadgets that promote inactivity and unhealthy habits.
- Limit your children’s screen time to less than an hour a day, especially during the school week, so they can spend more time on productive activities like homework, chores, and exercise.
Limit desserts and sugary foods:
- Many children and adults have desserts every night after dinner, which can lead to obesity.
- Try limiting desserts to the weekend or just one or two nights a week, and cut back on daily sugar intake.
- Sugar is often hidden in sodas, sports drinks, fruit juices, and many processed snacks.
- Avoid letting your children have sugary foods and desserts before lunch and dinner and maintain a proper diet to prevent obesity, as it can reduce their appetite for healthier foods.
Make your child’s favorite foods healthier:
- Almost every favorite dish of your child can be made in a healthier form.
- For example cakes can be made with other healthier forms of flours like wheat flour or even millet flour.
- Sweet can be replaced with other natural sweeteners.
- Begin gradually making healthier changes to your children’s favorite meals by adding more vegetables to almost every dish.
- Often, they won’t even notice the difference.
Get rid of processed snacks:
- Many processed snacks marketed to children are highly fattening, packed with sugar, sodium, preservatives, and other unnatural ingredients that contribute to obesity.
- Replace these snacks with fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds in your home.
Promote sleep quality:
- Just like adults, children are affected by lack of sleep and poor-quality sleep.
- Sleep deprivation can make them feel drowsy and tired during the day, leading to less activity and more time spent sitting.
- Poor sleep also disrupts hormones, including leptin and ghrelin, which control appetite.
- These imbalances can result in overeating and unhealthy food choices.
What are the treatment options for childhood obesity?
A pediatrician will determine the mode of treatment based on the weight, age, and other factors of the child. Usually childhood obesity treatment options include long-term, intensive treatment that include constant monitoring of the body weight of the child.
Medication and surgery may be recommended only after analyzing several factors and only if considered necessary by the doctors.
Is there a way to prevent childhood obesity?
Preventing childhood obesity isn’t easy and isn’t solely the responsibility of you and your family. It’s a shared effort involving governments, schools, communities, and corporations. Additionally, genetic factors and certain medications can contribute to obesity, which are beyond your control.
You can help prevent childhood obesity by establishing healthy eating habits and encouraging physical activity early on. The habits your child develops when they’re young will support a healthy lifestyle as they grow older. If you’re unsure about how to choose and prepare a variety of healthy foods, talk to your child’s healthcare provider.
Other recommendations to prevent childhood obesity include:
- Breastfeeding till 6 months of age
- Limiting screen time
- Encouraging outdoor activities
Can genes cause obesity?
Unfortunately yes, genetics also play a certain role in developing obesity. While it can also impact other reasons for childhood obesity like lifestyle habits causing to speed up the process and lead to childhood obesity in several children.
Does baby fat go away?
Parents tend to over feed their children assuming they might not be receiving nutrients required for their growth especially when the child looks thin or short when compared to other kids of their age. This can lead to build up of baby fat in the initial stages, and parents do assume that it goes away with time. But it is important to understand that this baby fat does not go away and can be one of the causes for childhood obesity.
Can childhood obesity be prevented?
Childhood obesity is one of the health concerns that can be largely prevented when proper lifestyle and eating habits are maintained. In case you are concerned about your child’s growth and weight it is important to talk to a pediatrician and evaluate the developing aspects of your child.
Important Takeaway:
It’s natural to feel guilty or responsible for your child’s obesity, especially with the stigma and misinformation surrounding this complex condition. However, many factors contribute to childhood obesity, and some are beyond your control. The positive side is that there are steps you and your family can take to support your child’s health. Consult a pediatric endocrinology hospital in Coimbatore to seek expert care and treatment on childhood obesity.
