Obesity is becoming quite a trend these days. Sadly, it is a trend that does not go out of season and 30.6% of the population is sporting that trend. Obesity happens for many reasons – pregnancy, stressful issues, inactive lifestyle, genes, untended health issues, sleep apnea and lack of sleep, and childhood obesity.
A child is said to be obese if his/her weight is 20% more than the ideal weight for a child in her own age and height. A better way to tell if the child is obese is by computing his/her BMI.
What to do if you think your child’s weight has gone beyond the normal weight
Whether or not you are overweight, you need to start monitoring what your child puts in his/her mouth by starting a grocery makeover. Stop buying carbonated sodas or sweetened drinks because they do nothing but contribute to more health problems. Buy more organic foods like vegetables and fruits, and avoid choosing processed foods. And stop buying junk foods. There are a thousand books and diet programs that are out to help you and your family live the healthy life you’ve always wanted but you have to be open to them.
If your child plays video games all day long, you need to start asserting a time limit dedicated for that. An alternative option would be to get your child Wii Fit or Xbox Kinect. Games like Biggest Loser, Dance Central, Dance Masters can surely get your kid in an active state. This would also be great in strengthening your family relationship because games like these are meant for anyone who wants to be entertained while being active.
The best meal companions? Family and veggies. It has been proven that when TV is your child’s constant companion, body fat and weight gain are going to join the party as well. For some reason, when you eat in front of the TV, your food takes a lot longer to reach to your stomach and tell your brain that it’s already full. It’s like the food is watching the reality show as well. Another great reason for eating with your family every meal without TV is you tend to watch what everyone eats and if you, as parent, are seen eating vegetables and fewer portions, your child is naturally going to do the same.
I highly believe that parents play an enormous amount of responsibility in a child’s weight and overall health. If a child sees his/her parents are not as responsible in keeping off their own weight, the child does the same. It is a social proof principle. When your child is uncertain of what to do, he/she naturally seeks out and observes those who are like him/her; and if his/her parents are overweight, the child concludes that it’s okay to be overweight and continue living that lifestyle.
It is not the fault of the fast food restaurants, manufacturers of the processed foods or even advertisements. It is your job as parents to wholly take up the responsibility in disciplining your child to eat the right food. When your child has been enforced how to live and eat healthy early on, convenient foods will not be enough to break that will. Stop pointing fingers on whose fault it really is and just start looking from within.
