Did you know that it is normal for all children to take on weight as they grow? Extra infrequent pounds are essential to support growth and development. How do parents know when weight gain is appropriate and when they should be concerned about a child’s weight gain? When ought a child lose weight?
Childhood obesity is a growing problem in America and in Europe. When a child is well above normal weight for their height, the child may be obese and approaching serious health problems.
Children do confront the same health problems that obese adults face such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension (high blood pressure). Parents can fight back by making sure your kids eat a diet that is wholesome and that they are physically active everyday. Your child’s pediatrician can provide you suggestions for physical exercise. They can also refer you to a registered dietitian or nutritionist that can help you create a healthy diet for your child’s age.
If your youngster is overweight and needs weight loss help, you may want to know what caused your youngster to have this problem. There are a number of causes for excess weight gain to include genetic and hormonal causes; consumng too much and not getting enough exercise. Eating and exercise habits are by far the most common causes for childhood weight problems. But a small proportion of children may have certain diseases that add to the problems. These include Cushing’s syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome.
Is your child at risk for developing a weight issue that requires him or her to be working on losing weight?
Risk factors for childhood obesity are many and include a diet that is made up of fast foods, baked goods, vending machine snacks, high-fat foods and processed foods. These food items are readily available and, in the fast-paced world of today, kids often reach for food that is tasty, quick and easy. Regrettably, foods that are sold in vending machines or at fast-food restaurants often contain a high calorie count along with that convenience and good taste.
Other risk factors include inactivity, genetics, psychological factors and family factors. Kids that have overweight family members may be genetically predisposed to gain excess weight as they grow, particularly if family factors are unhealthy. Family factors will be those that result from family routines. Like eating in front of the TV, consuming lots of salty, fatty or sweet foods, having a lot of take-out or fast-food meals because parents work and it’s easier to pick-up a meal than to cook it. Psychological risk factors may include those that are affiliated to kids not being able to cope with emotional problems, stress or boredom and use food to compensate.
To get more information on how to prevent childhood obesity, visit Dave Owen’s site “Facts About Childhood Obesity”. You will find many ways to help your child loose weight and gain self-esteem.