Spotlight on Childhood Obesity
The rising numbers of childhood obesity has become a global health concern. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) obesity is defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 and above. The BMI, a key index for relating body weight to height, is a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by their height in meters (m) squared. Overweight children, more often than non-overweight ones, suffer from heart problems, strokes, diabetes, and depression.
Please take precautions . The following list consists of only a few recommendations based on research from various medical institutions. This article may or may not align with your beliefs and ideas about the subject of childhood obesity. However, Heal One World feels this information could help you in supporting your child’s health.
Here are five recommendations for parents to prevent obesity among children:
Develop an early parent-child relationship across the first 5 years of life. Various emotional, physical, and mental factors have been associated with an increased risk of obesity. Stress management should be encouraged among parents in order to decrease the risk of overweight/obesity in their children.
Breastfeeding is a good source of calcium, iron and other important nutrients for your baby. Some infant formulas may not provide the proper nutrients and too much protein, so breastfeeding rather than only relying on infant formula is important to a healthy diet. High protein intake has been associated with accelerated growth in severe obesity in early childhood.
Vegetables are recommended to reduce the risk of chronic disease (World Health Organization, 1997). Increase the intake of fruit and/or vegetables amongst children aged five years and under to ensure the appropriate amount of nutrition intake. WHO (2010) suggests consuming one cup of raw or leafy greens or half cup or raw chopped vegetables equals one portion of vegetables; one whol medium-sized piece of fruit (apple, mango, pear, banana,), two pieces of smaller fruit (plum, kiwi, apricots), half cup very small fruits (berries, cherries), or one slice larger fruits (melon, pinapple), equals one portion of fruit.
Monitor balanced portions by eating in multiple sittings. Controlling portion sizes helps limit calorie intake, practically when eating high-calorie foods.
Parents' misconceptions about the ideal body weight also influences their children's body perceptions of a healthy physique. If the typical parent does not see a problem, they are unlikely to seek medical help or start change to overcome the condition. Always follow up with appointments, when doctors instruct to do so. Also, be consistent with the child's intake of nutritions.
