Obesity and
overweight in children
1. What is
childhood obesity?
You
probably know that more people are overweight today than ever before, and
experts call this condition the obesity epidemic.
This
problem affects children and adults, and so children today suffer from health
problems that only affected adults in the past, such as high blood pressure,
high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
According
to Al-Khabra, one-third of children between the ages of 2 and 19 suffer from
overweight and obesity.
According
to the World Health Organization report for the year 2008, the number of
children around the world who suffer from obesity under the age of five is
estimated at 22 million.
2. Does my
child suffer from obesity?
Knowing
whether a person is overweight is more complicated for children than for
adults, because children are still in the stage of growth and development.
Doctors and health care workers usually use a measure called the body mass
index (BMI) to determine if a person is suffering from obesity. Overweight .
Doctors
consider that the child suffers from obesity if the BMI is higher than what is
standard for 95% of children of the same age and sex, but if the BMI is higher
than what is found in 85% - 95% of children of the same age and sex, then the
child suffers of gaining weight.
3. What are
the causes of obesity in children ?
Obesity
usually runs in families, and some people have a genetic tendency to gain
weight more easily than others because their bodies burn calories more slowly
than others.
Although
genes greatly influence body size, the environment also plays a role.
People are
gaining weight today because of unhealthy eating habits (such as fast food),
and family habits (such as eating in front of the TV instead of around the
table).
Other
contributing factors to the obesity epidemic include high-calorie but
nutrient-poor meals and drinks, larger portion sizes, and a sedentary
lifestyle.
4. Health
problems caused by being overweight:
Obesity
causes fatigue and discomfort for the child to carry this extra weight, which
increases pressure on his body, especially the bones and joints of the legs.
Not only that, but these children are also at risk of developing diabetes,
heart disease and high blood pressure at a very early age. Usually, the risk of
infection with these diseases begins after the age of forty, but in obese
children, it may begin at a young age, such as the age of ten years.
These
children may also suffer from health problems during their childhood, such as:
1- Blount's
disease :
Excess
weight on the growing bones may lead to deformation of the leg bones.
2-
Arthritis:
The wear
and tear of joints due to excess weight may lead to this painful disease at
such an early age.
3- The
crisis:
Obesity is
associated with breathing problems that make it difficult to keep up with
friends, play sports, and even walk from one place to another.
4- Sleep
apnea:
This
condition is a real problem for many overweight children and adults. This
condition awakens them from sleep and makes them tired and negatively affects
their ability to concentrate and learn, and may lead to heart problems.
5- High
blood pressure:
High blood
pressure is rare in adolescents, but it is more common in adolescents who are
overweight or obese.
6. High
cholesterol :
Long before
they become ill, obese teens have abnormal blood lipid levels that include high
cholesterol, low good cholesterol (HDL), and high triglycerides. All this leads
to an increase in heart attacks and strokes when a person gets older.
7-
Gallstones:
The
collection of bile that hardens in the gallbladder forms gallstones. This
condition may be painful and requires surgery.
8- Fatty
liver:
When fat
accumulates in the liver it causes inflammation, scarring and permanent damage
to the liver.
9- Children
and adolescents who suffer from obesity are at risk of developing a pelvic
problem that requires surgical intervention to prevent further damage to the
joint.
10- Girls
who suffer from obesity may suffer from a delayed or interrupted menstrual
cycle, and the level of testosterone (the male hormone) in the blood may be
high. It is normal for girls to have a low concentration of testosterone in the
blood, but a very high percentage hinders ovulation and may lead to increased
body hair, making acne worse than before and may also cause baldness in girls.
11- Grease
of the genitals in males and protrusion of the breasts due to the accumulation
of fat around the genital organs and the increase in the proportion of female
hormones in males, especially during adolescence.
12- Insulin
resistance and diabetes:
When the
percentage of fat is high, insulin is less effective in getting glucose (the
main source of energy in the body) into the cells. And then the body needs more
insulin to maintain the normal level of sugar in the blood. In some
adolescents, insulin resistance may turn into type 2 diabetes.
5. How can I
help my child who is overweight?
Work on the
participation of all family members in building healthy eating habits and
sports habits. This will benefit all family members and does not exclude the
overweight child.
2. Be
supportive:
Tell your child
that he is loved, special and important because children's feelings about
themselves are usually based on their belief in what their parents feel about
them.
3. Encourage healthy eating habits:
- Buy and
offer more fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or dried) and allow your child
to choose what he wants when buying.
- Buy fewer
soft drinks, and foods rich in fat or calories such as chips, biscuits and
sweets, and always have healthy foods on hand for the child to eat between
meals.
- Make sure
your child eats breakfast daily to ensure that he gets the energy needed to
learn well at school.
- Reduce your
visits to fast food restaurants.
Offer your
child water and low-fat milk more than fruit juices, as low-fat milk and milk
products are important for the growth and development of your child and contain
fewer calories.
- Reduce
the amounts of saturated fats in your family's meals, and make sources of fats
fish, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.
- Cook
healthy meals and eat together to help the child enjoy different types of food.
- Do not be
alarmed if your child does not accept the new food at first, he may offer the
new food several times to some children before they eat it.
- Do not use
sweets as a reward for your child when he eats vegetables, because you will
send him the message that vegetables are less important than sweets.
- Offer your
child a small amount of food at first, and let him ask for more if he is still
hungry.
- Pay
attention to the foods and drinks that are promoted to children. These products
may contain large amounts of sugar and fats. They are usually promoted by
cartoon characters, and free games are provided with them. They are wrapped in
a bright cover and are widely promoted on television.
4. Encourage sports activities:
- Give a
good example: The chance that your child will become an athlete increases if he
sees that you are athletically active and that you enjoy the sporting activity.
- Encourage
your child to join a sports team, such as football, basketball, or a school or
neighborhood gym.
- Plan
family sports activities: such as a trip to the zoo, or walking in public
parks.
- Encourage
fun activities: Help your child find fun activities such as skipping rope, or
dancing if he does not feel comfortable when doing sports activities.
- Do not
encourage your child to practice sports activities for adults, such as riding a
sports bike and treadmill, as children's bodies are not yet ready for such
activities.
- Encourage
your child to practice sports activity for 60 minutes a day, in the form of one
exercise or several exercises for a shorter period for each during the day. If
your child is not active, make him start with ten minutes a day and gradually
increase the period to reach 60 minutes a day.
5. Reduce
inactive time:
- Limit the
time your son spends watching TV, playing video games and the computer.
- Help your
child find joy in doing a family art project or helping in the garden.
- Set a
positive example and this will help your child learn and follow healthy habits
throughout their lives.
6. Consult
a health professional:
If your
child still needs help, consult a specialist who may recommend a special weight
loss programme.
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