Childhood Obesity Prevention

| Posted: 15-04-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 85 | Rating: (73)

(?)

Childhood obesity has become a major health epidemic, with approximately 15% of children considered to be obese the world over. The main reason for the childhood obesity epidemic is a shift in eating habits, away from fresh food, whole grains and vegetables to convenience food high in fat, sugar and additives. Another major factor is a decline in activity for both children and adults, who now spend more time in sedentary activities like watching TV and playing computer games that participating in exercise. In addition, children who have obese or overweight parents have a high risk of becoming obese themselves as a result of poor family eating habits and unhealthy food choices. Parents today are spending less time with their kids and giving less parental advice about healthy food and activity choices. In the USA, UK and Australia 25% of children are considered overweight or obese. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are great including low self esteem, depression, hormonal imbalances, diabetes and joint problems. Worse still, the obese child who remains overweight into adulthood has the potential to develop more serious health risks later in their life, including arthritis, stroke and heart attack, high blood pressure, diabetes, and bowel cancer.

Fast food marketing giants spending billions of dollars in advertising to target children and teens, selling them cheap and high-calorie low nutrition value foods, such as crisps, soft drink, hamburgers and confectionery, coupled with lack of control of parents, is the major cause of incorrect eating habits and childhood obesity. Research shows that even drinking soft drink or soda regularly increases a child’s chance of becoming overweight or obese by 60%. Compounding this, even moderate exercise is no longer a regular daily activity for children and teens. Most children do not play any sport or even walk or cycle to school. Busy parents also have less time than ever to supervise their children and take them out to play in local parks or on the street. A fear of stranger danger and abduction has added to the value of allowing kids to watch TV or play computer games rather than be outside without parental supervision.

In relation to childhood obesity prevention, Doctors and Nutritionists recommend that most overweight children should be encouraged to lose weight through long lasting positive lifestyle changes in eating habits and activity, rather than be put on a weight-loss diet. It is better that children begin to moderate unhealthy choices, eat smaller portion sizes, and begin moderate exercise three to four days a week for 30-45 minutes, building on this over a longer period rather than staging a crash course diet.

The main parenting strategies include encouraging children to gradually change their (1) eating habits towards well-balanced, healthy, varieties of freshly cooked and nutritious foods, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and introducing more healthy recipes and nutritious lunch box ideas; (2) to become more active, and (3) to monitor their own progress and weight loss - until they are able to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It is often easier to facilitate a change in habits for children compared to adults. Importantly, parents need to talk to their kids and provide healthy choices at home, a range of activity and exercise options, and healthy lunch box offerings for school.

For parents needing support, internet Parent‘s Forums and Parenting Blogs offer support and community exchange of ideas and tips to help address issues relating to childhood obesity. Other advice includes getting kids involved in shopping and meal preparation to help teach them better nutrition and food choice, and assigning chores as another way to get kids up and active. Avoid stocking high-fat, high-sugar snacks in the home; provide fruit and healthy alternatives like fat free pretzels and popcorn. Dilute fruit juice and avoid soft drinks, water is always best. Try to make good choices when going out for dinner, and avoid using food as a reward/comfort. Instead, give kids the attention they deserve by listening, providing encouraging words and hugs and treating the family out to the cinema or local bowling alley to celebrate small successes.

Physical inactivity includes pastimes such as watching TV or playing computer games, should be reduced to no more than two hours a day. Gradual increase in physical activity, such as walking, bike riding, swimming, dancing and ball sports is suggested three to four times a week to begin. Importantly, remember the time you spend together as a family being active is also a great way to reconnect and bond and should be a fun experience for all… a new fitness plan can mean a whole lot more than simply losing weight!

Visit www.abcfitkids.com for more information, parenting articles and fee downloads.

Rate this Article:

Current: 5 / 5 stars - 6 vote(s).

Article Tags: Parenting, Childhood Obesity, Parenting Articles

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/childhood-obesity-prevention-131654.html

Print article

Send to friend

Publish this Article

Author feedback

About the Author:

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Add new Comment

Looking for a Parenting Article for Homosexual Parents
By: Veronica Fisher | 06/07/2007 | Parenting
There is no denying that homosexual parenthood is now a valid personal choice. It cannot be denied however that homosexual parenthood still has a tremendous share of challenges. Homosexual parents may be in need of a good parenting article to help them through.

Avoiding Childhood Obesity In Your Child
By: Nick A. James | 31/12/2007 | Parenting
If you're like me, when you go out in public you're probably noticing that kids are getting fatter and fatter. It can be a tense subject, but there is no denying that the size of America's children has been steadily growing in recent years, and this trend has dangerous implications...

A Conversation With A Fat Kid
By: Foster W. Cline And Lisa Greene | 24/01/2008 | Health
He was a generally loving, roly-poly 11-year-old. But Robert had a problem. He snacked. And he piled food on his plate. And he took second helpings. If there was candy, Fritos or chips within 100 yards, his radar located them. When people thought of Robert, they automatically described him as:...

Families Can Save on Gas
By: Chris Lowrey | 20/06/2008 | Parenting
Money is tight these days. Many parents are struggling to make ends meet. Families are making significant sacrifices. Here are some very simple and yet very helpful suggestions on how a family can save money on gas.

Cooking Up Some Fun With New Kid's Music Cd: Shake and Bake, Songs About Fitness and Food
By: Caroline Figiel | 16/06/2008 | Childhood Education
Childhood obesity rates are reaching mammoth proportions. Parents, teachers, and medical personal are wondering what steps to take in order to fight the fat. Caroline and Danny are trying to help with their new CD about good eating habits, excercise

Fighting Child Obesity
By: Shelley Murphy | 17/03/2006 | Fitness
Weight loss camps are not fat camps, but rather a healthy environment for children to achieve their weight goals.

Acomplia Diet Pill: a Perfect Way to Cut your Fat
By: Clarence Carter | 18/08/2006 | Weight Loss
Acomplia works by blocking a kind of receptor that regulates food intake and tobacco dependency. In giving dual advantage of controlling diet as well as nicotine intake in body, this pill appears to be a magic pill.

Obesity Related Health Problems
By: Milos | 19/11/2006 | Health
According to the statistic data of the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey or the NHANES, nearly two- thirds of the total adult population in the United States are overweight, and an astonishing figure of about 30.5% of Americans are obese.

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get pregnant from the first sexually touch ...
By: Rita | 25-07-2008
Can I get pregnant from the first sexually touch or interfere?

Selfish or not
By: avenger21462 | 24-07-2008
I am a single Dad I get my son every other weekend unless i have military reserves,but get him when i have free time he is 2n half. It seems my current girlfriend gives me grief when i dont asked her for her opinion on getting him , makes me feel she wants priority over my son she acks kinda selfish to me

I just found out im pregnant again with twins this ...
By: confusedone1 | 23-07-2008
I JUST FOUND OUT IM PREGNANT AGAIN WITH TWINS THIS IS MY 3ND PREGNANCY AND ITS WITH A BLACK MALE AND IM WHITE AND SCARED this will make it the third daddy and im only 17 nobody knows yet and my family dont believe in itteracial relationships what should i do

How can i make my girlfriend pregnant .?
By: stevo | 23-07-2008
How can i make my girlfriend pregnant .?

Referral sources for co-parenting interventions for separated lesbian parents.
By: ajemiller | 22-07-2008
Where can I find a list of licensed mental health specialist who specialize in working with separed lesbian parents, who are raising a daughter. Need these referral for the east side of Los Angeles.

Could I be pregnant?
By: jessica909 | 21-07-2008
My last period started on the 23rd of june. I had sex with my boyfriend on july 3rd and 4th. Then on july 8th i started bleeding light pink and then light red it look like it was my period but is to early to be my period.i been having nausea but its like for a while and then later it start having nausea and no vomiting,my head hurts alot...

Q&A Powered by:

Latest Nutrition Articles

All The Truth About Fat
By: Jerry Leung | 26/07/2008
Everyone talks about fat nowadays. It seems that it become the focus of most people these days. When we are still small children, our parents and teachers will tell us that fat is not good for us.

Type 2 Diabetes Can Be Better Managed With Low Glycemic Diet
By: Jackie Khor | 25/07/2008
When you eat healthy low glycemic food that does not spike your blood sugar, develop a modest, consistent exercise regime, and take high quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements, you can significantly improve your sensitivity to your own insulin.

Special Vitamin Needs for Children
By: John Spencer Ellis | 25/07/2008
Children's bodies are growing at a rapid rate and getting the proper vitamins is vital. Here are some tips on what to consider when looking for a supplement.

Multivitamins- to Take or not to Take
By: John Spencer Ellis | 25/07/2008
One's daily health regime can be significantly enhanced by taking a multivitamin. With so many choices available, it is important to know what you should be looking for when selecting a supplement.

Fat and Water Soluble Vitamins
By: John Spencer Ellis | 25/07/2008
The difference between fat and water soluble vitamins are laid out in this article. They are both necessary for general nutrition, but knowledge of their differing functions is necessary for general knowledge of nutrition.

Real Achievers
By: Sandra Prior | 25/07/2008
As my self confidence increased, I lost my fear, and decided to change my whole life by losing weight and eating correctly. This simple decision was the best I ever made.

Instill Healthy Eating Habits in Children
By: Lyla Feldman | 25/07/2008
Toddlers are inhaling French fries, pizza, candy, and soda in record numbers because they are mimicking adults eating habits. This is counterproductive because the best time to teach dietary habits is during those early, most impressionable years. Poor diets in adults are linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Weird Eating Habits Revealed
By: Lyla Feldman | 25/07/2008
Do you have weird eating habits or do you know someone who does? What’s strange for one person might be perfectly normal for the next. For example, one of my friends is a health nut when it comes to food. That is fine, but she indulges in other things such as alcohol on a daily basis. Too much of anything is never a good thing.

Article Categories

Article Marketing

Article Notepad

Stop Duplicate Content

Term Papers

Need Help?

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.19, 17)

Childhood Obesity Prevention

Article Comments

Related Articles

Got a Question? Ask.

Latest Nutrition Articles

Need Help?

Site Links

Webmasters

Business Info

Sign up for our email newsletter