Children Obesity

Child Obesity

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder, particularly among the affluent, all over the world. Obesity may be described as a condition characterized by excessive deposition of fat in the body. It usually results from consumption of food in excess of physiological needs. Millions of rupees are spent every year on weight loss programs and in most cases there is strong tendency to regain weight.

Symptoms of Obesity in Children

Obese children are often referred to as "chubby". The best way to determine if your child is suffering from obesity is to call a child-specialist doctor and have him diagnose your child. Now, children actually naturally have higher levels of fat than adults, what is often referred to in laymans terms as "baby fat", and this is perfectly natural. However, obesity is often accompanied by several other factors: chronic hunger, lethargy, and poor physical coordination.

Child Obesity Treatment

If any of your kids suffer from childhood obesity, singling out his problems would only work to his and your disadvantage. At his age, your child still doesnt have the maturity to understand and accept weight loss needs and goals. Furthermore, medical professionals do not advocate strict dieting for children either. If you want to help your child overcome his weight problems early on, the whole family must be prepared to tackle it together immediately.

9 Steps to Get You Started in Tackling Childhood Obesity

Step #1

As it always is with solving problems, there is no better time to find a solution than doing so now. Delays will only increase the risk of having your childs weight problems worsen. If you want to help your child, you need to take action without delay!

Step #2

Discuss with your partner how to best introduce changes to the familys lifestyle and eating habits. Do not underestimate your childs intelligence. If you are not careful, it would be easy for your other kids to catch on with what youre doing and blame their sibling for causing all these changes in their lives.

Its very important that you introduce changes gradually and emphasize its benefits for the whole family. It is crucial that all of your kids, even the one struggling with weight problems, does not realize what really triggered these changes.

If you or your partner has health problems, you can use this reason instead to explain the changes you make. You can also express how you would not want your kids to suffer the same health problems when they reach your age, and thats why youre training them this early to have good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle.

Step #3

Make a chart of the food you commonly eat every day. Consult a nutritionist or a physician and show this chart. She or he will let you know what youre doing right and what you should change for everyones betterment.

Step #4

Parents are the first and best role models children could ever have. If you have decided upon the changes, be prepared to follow them to the letter. If you cant, dont expect your kids to do otherwise.

Step #5

Subject your fridge and pantry to seasonal cleaning. Gradually replace unhealthy foods with healthy but nonetheless delicious alternatives. Do it one by one so your kids wouldnt feel completely deprived from it. Taking away all their favorite goodies in one instance will only make them crave it more. And do leave some of the "fun stuff" behind. Theyre not altogether bad to consume if you can monitor your childs intake of it.