Find Out How You Can Fight Obesity In Children

Combating obesity in children is currently a public policy concern of many governments and has not yet been eradicated. In the 21st century, obesity in children represents one of the most serious public health problems in the world, said a report published in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are many factors involved in this situation. For a start, we recommend that you face the situation as calmly as possible, the important thing is to get the child to help. Talking to her and explaining the problem is ideal.

How You Can Fight Obesity in Children

According to WHO, there are 41 million overweight children in the world. This conflict has raised alarms from health authorities. It’s natural that you want to find the solution quickly, but fighting obesity in children is a time-consuming process.

We ensure that childhood obesity is not resolved overnight. Sometimes not even in months. You need confidence in the process to, among other things, pass it on to your child. Research, read a lot, see an expert and then talk to him. If you explain with a lot of love, he will understand perfectly.

This should be the first step. Next, we’ll go deeper into the importance of choosing proper nutrition and physical activity. These two items, combined with knowledge, make an ideal formula to be able to fight obesity.

Why is obesity a problem for children’s health?

There are several complications that children can suffer if they do not control their weight. Among them we can mention:

• Cardiovascular diseases: caused by high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
• Type 2 diabetes: in children and teenagers, this disease is devastating, as severe food restrictions begin, sugar resistance appears and kidney disease arises.
• Liver steatosis: it is a high concentration of fat in the liver. It is necessary to control overweight in time and avoid complications.
• Sleep Apnea: This condition is rare in children, but it can appear. It is a respiratory problem where breathing is interrupted for 10 seconds during sleep.
• Asthma: This disease blocks the airways and hinders the normal breathing process.

social risks

Likewise, there are many psychosocial risks that start with discrimination on the part of those around the child, in the spaces where it usually develops. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overweight children become the object of teasing that can cause:

• Psychological stress
• Social stigmatization.
• Low self esteem.
• Academic problems.
• Conflicts with your peers.

Work at home is extremely important.

After consulting with the specialist, showing empathy with your child and explaining the consequences of obesity, comes homework. It all starts by setting an example. Fighting obesity in children is a team effort.

If he needs a healthy diet, you can also feed him that way. If he needs to exercise, follow him, lead by example. Create healthy habits in him, but to ingrain them in your routine you must also adopt them. The whole family must change their lifestyle.

balance calories

The diet your child should have to lose weight should be guided by an expert. Remember, the goal is to find your ideal weight, but not interfere with your normal growth and development process.

In this sense, it is important to control calories. The goal is to create awareness about the importance of adding low calorie foods to your meals. Prepare more eye-catching versions of your favorite dishes, using greens and vegetables, reducing sugar and carbohydrates. You can do the following:

• Include low-fat dairy products.
• Add protein in the form of lean meats, fish, poultry and grains.
• Fruits are a rich source of nutrients. Replace soft drinks with fruit-based vitamins, and offer sliced ​​fruit for snacks.

• Replace the flour with its whole grain versions. Brown rice is an excellent ally.
• Serve small portions. This will speed up your metabolism.
• Include all family members in this life habit.
• Eliminate saturated fats and processed sugar from the diet.
• Encourage drinking plenty of water.

observation is important

As a responsible parent, it is important to be aware of all the processes that affect the child. After all, for her to become overweight she had to have gone through several stages that went unnoticed.  Monitor their growth and try to detect in time if the child may suffer from obesity.

If this condition is manifesting, it’s time to consult the specialist and apply the changes. Children need support, don’t force them, teach them how significant each step is to achieve the goal of losing weight.