Obesity increases even more as children grow older. For ages 6 to 11, a minimum of one child in five is overweight. During the last two decades, this number has grown by more than 50 % and the number of obese children has nearly doubled.
Children are less healthy and therefore are heavier in weight when compared with those were several decades ago. Nowadays child’s diet includes much more of trans fat, less nutrients and food full of sugars. They prefer to consume more junk foods and fewer fruits or vegetables.
Weight loss isn’t a good approach for most young children, since their bodies are growing and developing. Overweight children shouldn’t be put on a diet unless a health care provider supervises one for medical reasons. A restrictive diet might not supply the energy and nutrients required for normal growth and development.
Whether your child reaches risk of becoming overweight or currently in a healthy weight, you can take proactive measures to obtain or keep things on course.
Prevent Childhood Obesity
- Reduce refined sugar intake. Drinking sugared drinks rather than water is the main reason behind obesity because it raises the obesity up to 60%.
- Encourage your child to drink more pure water every time they are thirsty.
- Overweight children need minimum 30 mins of exercise daily, so observe that your child does it on regular basis. They are able to start from walking and then can increase the intensity & carry out some tough exercise.
- Mostly children eat fast food, candy and snacks which isn’t good for health. Take care they have more healthy food which include vegetables and fruit.
- Don’t allow your child to play more game titles or watch much TV. Cause them to become play sports with friends that need more physical efforts.
- In case your child is becoming overweight you can talk to pediatrician to control it.
- Have fun with your child, go for swimming, take walks, do exercise or visit garden for a change.
Prevent Childhood Obesity
Healthy Foods
Unwanted weight and too-big waistlines have serious consequences for children, including self-esteem, social problems, and increased risk for chronic diseases. How come so many children tipping the scales? Experts say there isn’t any single cause of childhood obesity.
- Serve fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, beans, and lean meats and poultry. Use low-fat or nonfat milk products (aside from children younger than 24 months old).
- Keep healthy snack foods in the home, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and low-salt and low-fat pretzels.
- Don’t purchase high-fat, high-sugar or high-calorie snacks. When they aren’t in the home, you will not be tempted to eat them yourself or distribute these to your children.
- Have your children start the day having a filling breakfast, for example whole-grain cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, wheat grains toast, or a fruit smoothie created using low-fat yogurt.
- Involve kids in searching for and preparing meals. Children prefer to eat what they’ve helped prepare. Don’t bring them down the candy or snack food aisles.
- Don’t keep unhealthy foods in the home. Teach your children about convenient, healthy foods that may be eaten every day.