Childhood obesity is complex. The Centre believes in providing prevention measures to children early in their lives. We work with children to reverse childhood obesity by providing nutritional advice, lifestyle recommendations, and emotional support. Although patients may share many common contributing factors, they must be treated individually as each patient’s unique situation and treatment needs will differ.
According to the CDC, obesity is defined by a BMI of 95 or more for children and teenagers of the same age and sex. The BMI (body mass index) is a measure that can be used to identify childhood obesity and overweight. Risk factors include lack of social support, high-calorie diets and low nutrition, inadequate access to healthy food at school and daycare, increased sedentary activity (more time spent on mobile devices and less outside), affordability of healthy food, marketing of unhealthy foods, and community design. The body can also have complex interactions of hormones that can be out of balance due to toxin overload and overexposure, as well as gut dysfunction.
Obese children are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health problems in adulthood. How do we start? How can we reduce this incidence on a larger scale, and for the child who is in our care?
Solutions:
Take part in prevention initiatives. Prevention is the best way to prevent an epidemic. We must work together to prevent an epidemic from ever happening. We as a community must participate in programs that teach our children how to make healthy food choices. This starts at home. Parents must be educated as well. What kind of healthy eating behavior am I modeling to my family?
Locate a specialist. A meeting with a nutritionist or integrative medical provider is crucial for parents who want to help their child achieve a healthy weight. These professionals can help you determine the best food groups and calories to choose from, as well as how they can help with activity levels and growth. GMO foods should be avoided as they can disrupt hormones that are involved in fat metabolism. It is also important to avoid toxins that could disrupt hormone balance.
Encourage children to be active. Replace screen time with an activity the whole family enjoys. You don’t have to start with Kid Cross fit. This may be okay for some. However, activities like climbing, gardening, and building forts don’t “feel” like exercise so it may take a little more effort on the part of the child.
Make healthy eating fun. Children learn to value and appreciate the foods we eat by being involved in the kitchen from a young age. It can help children feel connected to their food by helping them peel oranges or garden tomatoes. Let them go to farmers’ markets and pick the fruits. You can read books on honey making and have them eat it with a spoon. They will be able to appreciate the origin of their food and may even become more excited about eating it.
dr assisted weight loss programs are designed for anyone looking to lose weight, whether you’re trying to lose 15 pounds or 150 pounds
Tips for parents to prevent childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is on the rise
In the United States, overweight children have increased in recent years. Around 10% of children aged 4-5 years old are overweight. This is double the rate 20 years ago. Overweight is more common in girls than in boys, and older preschoolers (ages 4–5) are more likely to be overweight than those who are younger (ages 2–3).
As children age, obesity increases. Between 6 and 11, one in five children is overweight. This number has almost doubled in the past 20 years, with more than 50% of children obese.
Most children are overweight because of poor eating habits (too many calories and insufficient physical activity). These habits are often established early in life, so it is important to start preventing obesity.
How to determine if your child is overweight
Parents shouldn’t make drastic changes to their child’s diets solely based on overweight perceptions. Every preschooler has a unique body structure and growth pattern. It is hard to assess obesity in children, as children grow at unpredictable rates. Only a professional should do this. They will use the child’s weight and height relative to their previous growth history.
Helping Overweight Children
Young children should not lose weight as their bodies are still developing. Children who are overweight should not be restricted from eating unless they have been supervised by a doctor. A restrictive diet might not provide the nutrients and energy needed for normal growth.
Most young children should maintain their current weight while growing normally in height.
Healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and a reduced amount of sedentary activities (such as playing computer games or watching TV) are the most important strategies to prevent obesity. These strategies can be part of a healthy lifestyle and should be learned early in life. These strategies can be achieved by following the Dietary Guidelines.