Ideas to Help Children and Maintain a Healthy Food
You’ve probably read about it in newspapers and seen
it on the news: in the United States, the number of children with obesity has
continued to rise over the past two decades. You may wonder: Why are doctors
and scientists troubled by this trend? And as parents or other concerned
adults, you may ask: What steps can we take to prevent obesity in our children?
This page provides answers to some of the questions you may have, as well as
resources to help you keep your family healthy.
Why is Childhood
Obesity Considered a Health Problem?
·
Children with
obesity can be bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers. They are
also more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem.
The effects of this can last into adulthood.
·
Children with
obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and
diseases, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, and type 2
diabetes.
·
Type 2 diabetes is
increasingly being reported among children who are overweight. Onset of
diabetes in children can lead to heart disease and kidney failure.
·
Children with
obesity also have more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure
and high cholesterol than their normal weight peers. In a population-based
sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, almost 60% of children who were overweight had at
least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 25% had two or more
CVD risk factors.
·
Children with
obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults. This can lead to lifelong
physical and mental health problems. Adult obesity is associated with a higher
risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many types of cancers.
What Can I Do As a
Parent or Guardian to Help Prevent Childhood Overweight and Obesity?
To help your child maintain a healthy weight, balance
the calories your child consumes from foods and beverages with the calories
your child uses through physical activity and normal growth.
Remember that the goal for children who are overweight
is to reduce the rate of weight gain while allowing normal growth and
development. Children should NOT be placed on a weight reduction diet without
the consultation of a health care provider.
Balancing
Calories: Help Kids Develop Healthy Eating Habits
One part of balancing calories is to eat foods that
provide adequate nutrition and an appropriate number of calories. You can help
children learn to be aware of what they eat by developing healthy eating
habits, looking for ways to make favorite dishes healthier, and reducing
calorie-rich temptations.
There’s no great secret to healthy eating. To help
your children and family develop healthy eating habits:
·
Provide plenty of
vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.
·
Include low-fat or
non-fat milk or dairy products.
·
Choose lean meats,
poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.
·
Serve
reasonably-sized portions.
·
Encourage your
family to drink lots of water.
·
Limit
sugar-sweetened beverages.
·
Limit consumption
of sugar and saturated fat.
Remember that small changes every day can lead to a
recipe for success
Author’s Bio
James Craig in this post informs his readers on ideas
to Help Children and Maintain a Healthy
Food for kids. He also looked at why children obesity is a major health
issue for many today.
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