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As a child do you remember being given a lot of food and being told to gulp down every single bit of it Have you encountered parents who think that fat children make healthy and happy children These are among the reasons for the rise of child obes
As a child do you remember being given a lot of food and being told to gulp down every single bit of it Have you encountered parents who think that fat children make healthy and happy children These are among the reasons for the rise of child obesity cases worldwide

What is obesity
Obesity means having too much fat content in the body To describe it scientifically obesity is characterized by having a weight measurement and body mass index well above the norm It results from high amounts of calorie intake and very little expenditure of energy

Obesity is a rapidly growing problem not only in the United States but all over the world A recent study has shown that in the United States alone 65 of the population is overweight and obese All around the world an estimated three hundred million adults are obese Fifteen percent of United States child population has also been reported overweight Around the world an estimated twentytwo million children aged five and below are overweight

What causes child obesity
Like any other medical condition child obesity may be caused by a number of factors most often in combinations Obesity may either be acquired from external factors hereditary caused by psychological factors or secondary to a present condition

1Acquired This may be a result from poor eating habits and a lack of physical activities to burn off the calorie obtained from previously ingested food help contribute to a spike in weight gain
2Hereditary Children born of obese parents are more prone to being overweight and obese themselves This is usually brought about by shared unhealthy eating habits observed from the parents
3Psychological factors Obesity may have come secondarily to children overeating to cope with stress andor negative emotions such as boredom anger sadness anxiety or depression
4Illnesses Various conditions such as hypothyroidism Cushings syndrome depression and other neurological concerns may lead to obesity and weight gain in children

Are there any complications
If a child continues to indulge in poor eating habits and does not engage in physical activities to burn off the calories childhood obesity may develop into lifethreatening complications including diabetes high blood pressure heart diseases sleeping problems cancer and other health concerns Overweight kids are likely to grow up as overweight adults as well

Most often than not obese children get subjected to teasing and public humiliation To some point it even leads to harassment violence and even discrimination by his family This causes children to grow up with really low selfesteem and depression

What can be done to prevent childhood obesity
It is never a good idea to ignore signs of obesity in children Intervention should be taken to establish good health before your childs obesity worsens

Set an achievable weightloss goal Your goals shouldnt be too farfetched and should still allow room for normal growth and development Start small so as not to overwhelm or discourage your child with the changes youre planning to implement
Manage your childs diet Keep a journal or diary of your childs daily food This helps come up with a more accurate dietary assessment This food journal should be as detailed as possible
Set aside time for physical activities Exercise is necessary for continuous weight loss This also helps redistribute body fat into muscles Again start small to avoid discouraging the child Build up exercise time slowly for better results

In conclusion child obesity is a condition that is fully reversible The best thing to do to avoid this kind of dilemma for your child is to set a good example Show them how good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle help you enjoy life more This is the best way to show them you care for them too