Obesity in children is the most common lifestyle disease nowadays and it should be concerned too. The lack of awareness of the topic makes it more dangerous. Parents must have an awareness of this topic because it is the root cause of some other lifestyle disorders. 4th March is celebrated as a world obesity day to spread awareness for obesity.
Well, I’m not a physician, I’m just a parenting coach.
Then why I’m covering this topic?
Just because as a parent we must take care of our children’s all over health and well-being. Obesity is not only a disease but a lifestyle disorder that can be prevented by taking some precautions.
As a parenting coach, I feel to spread awareness on this topic.
Some fact checks
The data from The World Health Organisation shows that in 2022 there were more than 10 million new cases in India.
Over 390 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 years were overweight in 2022 and the numbers are increasing fast.
Among children and adolescents aged 5-19 years are overweight from just 8% in 1990 to 20% in 2022.
The numbers show that the number of cases of obesity in children is increasing at rocket speed and it is a matter of worry for all of us and for the whole of society.
They are the next generation; the future of society and they must be physically and mentally healthy for a healthy society.
Why obesity in Children is the most concernÂ
The new age children have an unhealthy lifestyle with almost zero physical activity and bad food habits.
Obesity can cause other lifestyle disease like diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, hormonal imbalance, etc.
Obesity can affect their entire future, their cognitive behavior, their personality, and their mental well-being.
What is obesity?
Obesity is a disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems
Obesity often results from taking in more calories than are burned by daily activities.
The symptoms
Obesity is a chronic condition characterized by excessive body fat accumulation, which can lead to various health issues. While clinical diagnosis of obesity is based on body mass index (BMI) calculations, there are several common symptoms and signs associated with obesity.
- Weight gain: Obesity typically leads to significant weight gain, often accompanied by difficulties in losing weight.
   2. Increased body fat: Excessive body fat, particularly around the abdomen, hips, and thighs, is a common symptom of obesity.
   3. Breathlessness and reduced stamina: Obesity can result in reduced lung capacity and endurance, making physical activities more challenging.
   4. Fatigue and low energy levels: Carrying excess weight can place additional strain on the body, leading to feelings of fatigue and reduced energy.
   5. Joint and back pain: Excessive weight can exert pressure on the joints, especially the knees, and hips, causing pain and discomfort.
   6. Sleep disturbances: Obesity is associated with sleep apnea, a condition characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep patterns and excessive daytime sleepiness.
   7. Psychological effects: Obesity can have psychological impacts such as low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety, often as a result of societal stigma and body image concerns.
   8. Increased perspiration: Individuals with obesity may experience excessive sweating more frequently than those with a healthy weight.
   9. Skin issues: Skin problems like skin-fold rashes, intertrigo (inflammation caused by friction between skin folds), and fungal infections can occur due to the presence of moisture and reduced airflow in skin folds.
It is important to note that these symptoms can vary among individuals, and the presence of one or more symptoms does not necessarily indicate obesity.
A medical evaluation by a healthcare professional is necessary for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of obesity.
The main reason for obesity in children
Today our lifestyle has been affected by modernization, fashion, trends, and technology.
Children nowadays are likely to have packaged food with lots of preservatives, processed and junk food, oily and fried food, sugar, soft drinks, etc. Their eating habits are not healthy. Their lifestyle is not healthy.
Children are stuck to their phones for the maximum time of the day and have almost zero physical activity, which means they eat more calories than they burn.
The extra calories are stored in their body in the form of fat which eventually become the reason behind obesity or excessive weight gain.
The lifestyle habits are bad and what makes it worse, is we the parents.
How?
We allow them to have these bad habits, Without any restriction and even we parents sometimes are not aware of the issue and have not a healthy food habits.
Even we are not aware of this kind of problem. We think that having golu-molu (chubby) child is a healthy child but that is not true.
Causes of Obesity in Children
Obesity is a complex health condition influenced by several factors. Understanding its causes can help in the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Please consult your doctor before going to any kind of conclusion.
Here are some key factors that contribute to obesity:
- Poor Diet: Consuming a diet high in calories, unhealthy fats, sugars, and processed foods contributes to weight gain. Overconsumption of fast food, sugary beverages, and snacks that are low in nutritional value can lead to excessive calorie intake.
- Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle are significant contributors to obesity. Engaging in limited or no exercise and spending long hours sitting, whether for gaming, scrolling, or binge-watching. Even at school, or during leisure time, decreases energy expenditure and promotes weight gain.
- Genetics and Family History: Genetic factors can influence a person’s susceptibility to obesity. If one or both parents are obese, there is an increased likelihood of their children being obese as well. The genetic predisposition interacts with environmental factors, such as dietary and lifestyle habits.
- Environmental Factors: The environment in which individuals live greatly influences their eating and physical activity habits. Factors such as easy access to unhealthy food options, the prevalence of sedentary behaviors, lack of recreational spaces, and social and cultural influences can contribute to the development of obesity.
- Psychological Factors: Emotional factors like stress, boredom, depression, or trauma can lead to unhealthy eating patterns and the excessive consumption of food for comfort or as a coping mechanism. These psychological factors can play a role in the development and maintenance of obesity.
- Medications and Health Conditions: Certain medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, corticosteroids, and some hormonal contraceptives, may contribute to weight gain and obesity. Additionally, certain health conditions, like hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at a very young age, and Cushing’s syndrome (a condition that occurs from exposure to high cortisol levels for a long time), can increase the risk of obesity.
- Socioeconomic Factors: Obesity rates tend to be higher in populations with lower socioeconomic status. Limited access to healthy foods, a higher prevalence of fast-food outlets, and fewer opportunities for physical activity can contribute to weight gain in these communities.
It’s important to note that obesity is a multifactorial condition, and different individuals may experience varying combinations of these causes. A holistic approach that addresses diet, physical activity, emotional well-being, and environmental factors is essential for effective obesity prevention and management.
How can Obesity affect our children?
We have discussed the symptoms and causes of diabetes but its side effect has a deep impact on our children because it does not affect them only physically but also their whole life.
As the child grow, they become aware of their look and personality and at that time it could be possible that they may develop body image issues.
A child wants to fit in the societal norms but with constant reminders of their body shape, they cannot develop self-esteem.
The poor self-esteem may turn into depression and then it becomes hard to deal with it.
Obesity can create complications in a child’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.
The constant hustle to fit in the societal expectations and comments passed by the surrounding people make it difficult for the child to maintain their emotions toward those negative comments.
The emotional conflicts create other complications which affect their school performance, quality of life, and behavioral patterns.
Children with obesity are at risk of type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint pain, breathing problems obstructive sleep apnea, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The solution for obesity in children
We are here to find the solution not only to discuss the problem and forget about it.
Here are some solutions that may help you to cope with the obesity.
- Set a good example- We as a parent are the first role models of our children and when we follow a healthy lifestyle and a healthy food habit there are higher chances that our children will follow it.
So, please check out your food habits, assess them and if you find that you need to change them do it as soon as possible. Â You can also insist on following healthy food habits with your children and without forcing them give them healthy options to satisfy their cravings.
Children mostly eat junk food at snacking time. So, keep availability of healthy snacks in your home so you can offer them homemade snacks, dry fruits, or fresh fruit instead of outside food.
   2. Most parents give rewards in the form of chocolate, candy, or lollipop. You can opt for non-food rewards to avoid these sugary foods. For instance, an extra story at bedtime or 10 more minutes to play in the garden anything that leads them to a healthy lifestyle.
   3. Make a habit of regular physical activities as it is pivotal for their overall health. Take your young children to the garden and playground regularly. Encourage your teen to take part in sports and other outdoor activities they like.
  4. Keep them away from the screen while eating. How we eat food is as important as what food we eat. Let them experience the food they eat. Allow them to use their senses while eating their meals.
  5. At meal time keep the screen off and teach them to enjoy food. I also suggest that please have at least a meal a day with the whole family. It is a great time for having quality time and indulging in family time. Switch off the T.V., keep aside all your mobile phones and just have your meal together and start to connect with your family members, especially your children.
  6. Sleeping pattern also plays an important role in our health. Sleep deprivation causes a hormonal imbalance that leads to increased appetite. The more food a child will take the more chances they have of obesity and other lifestyle diseases.
These all are the little steps toward the healthy habits that we parents should take care of for the sake of our children’s future.
One step forward can make a lot of changes in their life.
Obesity is not a big giant monster, with the help of your physician and constant regulation over the habit you can create a huge impact on our children’s future.
Thank you for reading. If this article gives you value then please share it with other parents to raise awareness of obesity in children.
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Happy Parenting.
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