Why Childhood Obesity Is a Global Health Issue and Needs Prevention?
About one in five American children are known to suffer from childhood obesity. Compared to those children who retain a healthy weight in the long term, children with childhood obesity are at an increased risk of developing chronic systemic issues. For example, individuals with childhood obesity can easily be at risk of developing asthma (airways become inflamed, swelled, and narrow), sleep apnea (sleep-related breathing disorder), thyroid disorders, bone and joint disturbances, premature onset of type 2 diabetes (a condition affecting body’s way of processing glucose or blood sugar), cardiovascular or heart disease, and high blood pressure.
The current nutrition research also indicates that obesity can impact individual medical costs. Compared to healthy children with healthy weight and BMI (body mass index), the annual expenditures of children suffering from severe obesity can be an estimated $900 to $1000 higher.
Children who cannot tackle the issue of obesity while growing up into adults have an even higher risk of developing heart stroke, certain cancers, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, weakness of neurocognitive functions (such as learning, language, social cognition, and memory), mental illnesses, clinical depression (a mood disorder causing a feeling of disinterest and sadness), or anxiety (a feeling of uneasiness and fear), and eventually premature death. Nutrition research also shows that children with obesity are much more likely to retain this condition even when they become adults.
As per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, daily life activities, such as learning, working, and playing are an essential part of living that can contribute towards health and prevent the global disease patterns of childhood obesity and increasing mortality amongst obese individuals suffering from chronic health issues.
What Is the Importance of ECE or ECD Programs?
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Over the years, there has been no specific solution to address the societal or lifestyle problem of childhood obesity. However, there are multiple ways parents and caregivers would be interested in, such as encouraging children to maintain a healthy weight and set up health and fitness goals for themselves in the future.
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Inculcating healthy habits always starts at home, especially for children in early care and education or development (ECE or ECD) settings. These places outside the comfort of home would help young children build a mentally and physically active lifestyle foundation for healthy living.
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Nutritionists encourage high-quality ECE or ECD programs that can tune into the child a positive impact on the importance of achieving social and emotional well-being, thereby influencing their eating behavior, lifestyle patterns, and socioeconomic outcomes later in adulthood.
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Parents and caregivers can also research the need for healthy infant feeding, healthy eating, the importance of physical activity, and limiting television or mobile screen time. They can also get help from a healthcare provider, nutritionist, or ECE provider about the necessary policies and practices related to breastfeeding, the nutrition standards that are currently in place, the specific access to outdoor physical activities during the day, and the acceptable screen time which does not influence their eating behavior or pattern.
What Are the Tips to Prevent Obesity and Lead a Healthy Lifestyle From Childhood?
The essential lifestyle and dietary tips that one can practice or implement as a parent for preventing childhood obesity in their kids are:
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Start by offering a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day that can keep the child satiated and make them less prone to unhealthy cravings. Contrary to myth, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables can help the child get a dose of heart-healthy fiber and sufficient calories to stay active throughout the day.
-
Always opt for only low-sodium vegetables, fruits, and fresh fruit juices. Adopting a low-sodium and heart-healthy diet is one of the fundamental healthy eating patterns a family can implement so that children can maintain or sustain a healthy weight even as they age. Consumption of fresh colored diverse vegetables and fruits, whole grain foods, lean protein plant or animal-based foods, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products can set the child on the right track for a healthy life.
-
Kids or young adolescents are often tempted by cravings for junk or unhealthy foods by the influence of peers, social media, or television. Therefore, parents and caregivers can allow them to rethink their food choices by replacing their preferences for sugary drinks, sodas, energy or fruit drinks, and sugar-flavored milk with water, nuts and seeds, lean proteins, dairy, 100 percent fresh fruit juice, plain low-fat or plant-based milk.
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To set an example for the younger children as a family to stay physically active and develop an interest in fitness. Children who are encouraged to build stronger muscles, and aim for cardiovascular fitness through sports, athletics, or physical activity daily can have a higher metabolic rate, less chance of being obese, and less prone to chronic diseases than children who follow a sedentary lifestyle pattern. Involving young children in chores like walking the family pets before or after school, running races in the yards, doing outdoor sports, and engaging in household domestic chores can also count towards increased physical activity.
-
Parents should establish a proper sleep routine at night time to prevent the risk of children developing type 2 diabetes, obesity, neurocognitive (ability to think, learn, process, concentrate, remember, speak, and understand) problems, and attention or behavior issues. While preschoolers need at least 11 to 13 hours a day, including short naps, children aged between six to 12 years need around nine to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and adolescents between 13 to 18 need at least eight to ten hours of night sleep. These habits can establish a higher metabolic rate and lower the risk of weight gain and obesity.
Conclusion:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), family or parents or guardians must set the right example for healthy living, and opt for a nutrient-oriented lifestyle to motivate children to practice the same in the long run. Limited screen time, indoor time spent, and sedentary lifestyle habits and instead opting for physical activities, sports, and fitness along with the preference for a nutrient-rich diet can prevent childhood obesity and reduce the risk of children developing obesity later in their lives.
Why Childhood Obesity Is a Global Health Issue and Needs Prevention?
About one in five American children are known to suffer from childhood obesity. Compared to those children who retain a healthy weight in the long term, children with childhood obesity are at an increased risk of developing chronic systemic issues. For example, individuals with childhood obesity can easily be at risk of developing asthma (airways become inflamed, swelled, and narrow), sleep apnea (sleep-related breathing disorder), thyroid disorders, bone and joint disturbances, premature onset of type 2 diabetes (a condition affecting body’s way of processing glucose or blood sugar), cardiovascular or heart disease, and high blood pressure.
The current nutrition research also indicates that obesity can impact individual medical costs. Compared to healthy children with healthy weight and BMI (body mass index), the annual expenditures of children suffering from severe obesity can be an estimated $900 to $1000 higher.
Children who cannot tackle the issue of obesity while growing up into adults have an even higher risk of developing heart stroke, certain cancers, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, weakness of neurocognitive functions (such as learning, language, social cognition, and memory), mental illnesses, clinical depression (a mood disorder causing a feeling of disinterest and sadness), or anxiety (a feeling of uneasiness and fear), and eventually premature death. Nutrition research also shows that children with obesity are much more likely to retain this condition even when they become adults.
As per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, daily life activities, such as learning, working, and playing are an essential part of living that can contribute towards health and prevent the global disease patterns of childhood obesity and increasing mortality amongst obese individuals suffering from chronic health issues.
What Is the Importance of ECE or ECD Programs?
-
Over the years, there has been no specific solution to address the societal or lifestyle problem of childhood obesity. However, there are multiple ways parents and caregivers would be interested in, such as encouraging children to maintain a healthy weight and set up health and fitness goals for themselves in the future.
-
Inculcating healthy habits always starts at home, especially for children in early care and education or development (ECE or ECD) settings. These places outside the comfort of home would help young children build a mentally and physically active lifestyle foundation for healthy living.
-
Nutritionists encourage high-quality ECE or ECD programs that can tune into the child a positive impact on the importance of achieving social and emotional well-being, thereby influencing their eating behavior, lifestyle patterns, and socioeconomic outcomes later in adulthood.
-
Parents and caregivers can also research the need for healthy infant feeding, healthy eating, the importance of physical activity, and limiting television or mobile screen time. They can also get help from a healthcare provider, nutritionist, or ECE provider about the necessary policies and practices related to breastfeeding, the nutrition standards that are currently in place, the specific access to outdoor physical activities during the day, and the acceptable screen time which does not influence their eating behavior or pattern.
What Are the Tips to Prevent Obesity and Lead a Healthy Lifestyle From Childhood?
The essential lifestyle and dietary tips that one can practice or implement as a parent for preventing childhood obesity in their kids are:
-
Start by offering a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day that can keep the child satiated and make them less prone to unhealthy cravings. Contrary to myth, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables can help the child get a dose of heart-healthy fiber and sufficient calories to stay active throughout the day.
-
Always opt for only low-sodium vegetables, fruits, and fresh fruit juices. Adopting a low-sodium and heart-healthy diet is one of the fundamental healthy eating patterns a family can implement so that children can maintain or sustain a healthy weight even as they age. Consumption of fresh colored diverse vegetables and fruits, whole grain foods, lean protein plant or animal-based foods, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products can set the child on the right track for a healthy life.
-
Kids or young adolescents are often tempted by cravings for junk or unhealthy foods by the influence of peers, social media, or television. Therefore, parents and caregivers can allow them to rethink their food choices by replacing their preferences for sugary drinks, sodas, energy or fruit drinks, and sugar-flavored milk with water, nuts and seeds, lean proteins, dairy, 100 percent fresh fruit juice, plain low-fat or plant-based milk.
-
To set an example for the younger children as a family to stay physically active and develop an interest in fitness. Children who are encouraged to build stronger muscles, and aim for cardiovascular fitness through sports, athletics, or physical activity daily can have a higher metabolic rate, less chance of being obese, and less prone to chronic diseases than children who follow a sedentary lifestyle pattern. Involving young children in chores like walking the family pets before or after school, running races in the yards, doing outdoor sports, and engaging in household domestic chores can also count towards increased physical activity.
-
Parents should establish a proper sleep routine at night time to prevent the risk of children developing type 2 diabetes, obesity, neurocognitive (ability to think, learn, process, concentrate, remember, speak, and understand) problems, and attention or behavior issues. While preschoolers need at least 11 to 13 hours a day, including short naps, children aged between six to 12 years need around nine to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and adolescents between 13 to 18 need at least eight to ten hours of night sleep. These habits can establish a higher metabolic rate and lower the risk of weight gain and obesity.
Conclusion:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), family or parents or guardians must set the right example for healthy living, and opt for a nutrient-oriented lifestyle to motivate children to practice the same in the long run. Limited screen time, indoor time spent, and sedentary lifestyle habits and instead opting for physical activities, sports, and fitness along with the preference for a nutrient-rich diet can prevent childhood obesity and reduce the risk of children developing obesity later in their lives.
