The Facts and Statistics of the Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Childhood obesity has become a worldwide epidemic. Did you know that 1 in 5 children are obese and 1 and 4 are considered overweight. Minority children suffer even higher rates of obesity. All of these statistics are very alarming and there are several contributing factors that have led to this epidemic. You should understand that childhood obesity affects children exactly like obesity affects adults. Both obese children and adults have a higher chance of developing hypertension, high cholesterol, low self-esteem, asthma, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes and even some forms of cancer.
Here are some interesting facts about childhood obesity.
1. Both adults and children with lower education and income levels are more likely to become overweight or obese.
2. Children that have overweight or obese parents are more likely to be overweight or obese as well.
3. Children that were not breastfeed have higher risk of becoming obese children and adults.
4. Children watch about 10 to 20 food and drink commercials per day.
5. In the United States alone, food and beverage companies spend millions of dollars marketing their products to children. Unfortunately, many of these products are extremely high in sugar, fat and calories.
6. Obese children have a higher risk of dying prematurely than children of normal weight
7. Young female children that have physically inactive mothers are more likely to be sedentary and ultimately become overweight.
8. Statistics show that children and teens that spend more than 4 hours per day watching television or on computer are more likely to become overweight or obese.
In today’s economic times, most households have both parents working outside the home. Unfortunately this situation leaves children at home alone watching television or surfing the internet for hours where they are inundated with advertisement after advertisement for tasty but unhealthy treats and snacks. As these children begin to gain weight, some are ridiculed and bullied which can lead to depression and low self-esteem. With depression and low self-esteem, children can develop even more weight and health problems.
Parents of children that have a higher risk for obesity should be mindful of their child’s diet and exercise routine. These statistics do not mean a child is destined to become overweight or obese. It simply means that they have a higher chance. If both you and your child work hard and stay on top of your child’s diet, exercise and health, you can both break the cycle of obesity.
Categories: Allgemein Tags: chance, child, Childhood, childhood obesity epidemic, diabetes, diet, education, Entwurf, food and beverage companies, home, low self esteem, lower education, minority children, obese children, risk, show, sleep apnea, television, type, type 2 diabetes, watching television, weight, worldwide epidemic
The Facts and Statistics of the Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Childhood obesity has become a worldwide epidemic. Did you know that 1 in 5 children are obese and 1 and 4 are considered overweight. Minority children suffer even higher rates of obesity. All of these statistics are very alarming and there are several contributing factors that have led to this epidemic. You should understand that childhood obesity affects children exactly like obesity affects adults. Both obese children and adults have a higher chance of developing hypertension, high cholesterol, low self-esteem, asthma, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes and even some forms of cancer.
Here are some interesting facts about childhood obesity.
1. Both adults and children with lower education and income levels are more likely to become overweight or obese.
2. Children that have overweight or obese parents are more likely to be overweight or obese as well.
3. Children that were not breastfeed have higher risk of becoming obese children and adults.
4. Children watch about 10 to 20 food and drink commercials per day.
5. In the United States alone, food and beverage companies spend millions of dollars marketing their products to children. Unfortunately, many of these products are extremely high in sugar, fat and calories.
6. Obese children have a higher risk of dying prematurely than children of normal weight
7. Young female children that have physically inactive mothers are more likely to be sedentary and ultimately become overweight.
8. Statistics show that children and teens that spend more than 4 hours per day watching television or on computer are more likely to become overweight or obese.
In today’s economic times, most households have both parents working outside the home. Unfortunately this situation leaves children at home alone watching television or surfing the internet for hours where they are inundated with advertisement after advertisement for tasty but unhealthy treats and snacks. As these children begin to gain weight, some are ridiculed and bullied which can lead to depression and low self-esteem. With depression and low self-esteem, children can develop even more weight and health problems.
Parents of children that have a higher risk for obesity should be mindful of their child’s diet and exercise routine. These statistics do not mean a child is destined to become overweight or obese. It simply means that they have a higher chance. If both you and your child work hard and stay on top of your child’s diet, exercise and health, you can both break the cycle of obesity.
Categories: Allgemein Tags: chance, child, Childhood, childhood obesity epidemic, diabetes, diet, education, Entwurf, food and beverage companies, home, low self esteem, lower education, minority children, obese children, risk, show, sleep apnea, television, type, type 2 diabetes, watching television, weight, worldwide epidemic
Simple and Easy Ways to Prevent Childhood Obesity
Current research shows that approximately 300 million people are obese and 5% of these people are children. Similar to adults, obesity causes several health risks and can decrease your child’s life expectancy. Obese children have a higher probability of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and severe emotional distress and trauma. Childhood obesity prevention is very important and can ultimately save your child’s life.There are several factors that could cause your child to become obese. Many people assume that both adults and children that are overweight or obese are lazy and eat too much. Although these factors can lead to obesity, they are not the only culprits. Obesity can be caused by genetics, illness and even emotional trauma. Some children begin to suffer weight issues after their parents get a divorce or they suffer the loss of a loved one. You should monitor your child’s behavior after any traumatic event to ensure your child is dealing with their emotions properly.Preventing childhood obesity does not have to be difficult. Here is a list of 4 simple and easy ways to prevent your child from becoming obese.1. BreastfeedingBreastfeeding is the best way to prevent not only childhood obesity but also other disorders like asthma. A mother’s milk is full of nutrients and is high in protein which can help establish a well-balanced metabolic rate for your child. If your child has a high metabolic rate, they are less likely to suffer from weight issues. However, if you did not breastfeed your child, you should not blame yourself for your child’s weight issues. Breastfeeding is only one piece to this very large puzzle.2. Caloric intakeGenerally, weight issues stem from eating more calories than your body expends. You should avoid giving your child high-calorie junk foods that contain excessive amounts of fats and sugar. You should substitute these with healthy, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. If your child is slightly overweight, you should also monitor and track all the food that your child eats. This can help you and your doctor determine the proper course of action to prevent any weight issues from getting worse.3. ExerciseYou should get your child in the habit of doing consistent exercise. Obviously, you should speak with your doctor before starting your child on any exercise regimen because their muscles and bones are still developing. You do not want to hinder your child’s overall growth. Keep exercise fun; therefore, make sure it is age appropriate. A child may not want to do an hour on the Stair Master and they really should not. It may be too much for their heart and lungs to handle. If you find age appropriate exercises, your child is more likely to stay consistent and enjoy being an active individual.4. Limit access to the television and computerYou should limit the amount of time your child spends in front of the television or computer. Research has proven that children that spend more time watching television or surfing the internet are more likely to become overweight and obese.Preventing your child from becoming obese is extremely important and very simple. Children are very resilient and will to respond to changes fairly quickly.
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Preventing Childhood Obesity Before It Starts
Thanks to a large number of responsible parents getting to know more about the dangers of childhood obesity, – an epidemic which is growing out of all proportions,- they are looking for ways of preventing childhood obesity before it starts. Now what is childhood obesity? Is your child overweight? Is he in the habit of eating food which is definitely not very healthy for him? Is he pudgy and lethargic? Does he spend most of his time scrunched up in front of the TV because he has no energy to go out and play with his friends? Can you consider him to be definitely not healthy but fat? If you can answer “yes” to the last question, it means that you already know all about childhood obesity and are looking for ways and means to tackle it.Prevention is better than cure and it is easier for you to make sure that your child does not grow fat and flabby, rather than getting him to lose weight after you have stuffed him up like a Thanksgiving turkey. A happy, healthy, normal child is going to be physically active, will enjoy eating everything which is put in front of him, including fresh fruit and vegetables, cereals, food items made with olive oil, beans and legumes. A bored child may indulge in eating just because he has nothing constructive to do. Some children cannot resist stretching out their hands for a fatty snack while watching TV. Not only are they destroying their state of good health and well-being, but this sedentary lifestyle is going to make them put on weight really fast. So remember that it depends upon the parents to know all about preventing childhood obesity before it starts. As long as the child imitates its parents and eats healthy, enjoys plenty of exercise in the fresh air, does not mind snacking off fruits, seeds, vegetables and nuts and does not indulge in processed foods, soy products, or junk food with fructose, and other chemical preservatives there is little or no chance of his ever growing fat and pudgy.A number of children indulge in comfort food eating (binging), if they are suffering from any sort of emotional upheaval or stress. So if your normally happy child acts withdrawn and starts eating you as a responsible parent would want to know all about his emotional state. The main reason why children indulge in comfort eating is because he is not capable of handling those emotional problems. So he is trying his best to make them disappear through overeating.If obesity is not a genetic condition in your family, there is no question about your not being able to prevent it in your child. However, if both parents and grandparents are comfortably stout, a child may have a predisposition towards obesity. However, even in such cases, the weight gain can be controlled through lots of exercise and lots of healthy food. So starting from today, make sure that your child does not come under the obese category ever, by using these helpful tips!
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