Posted on December 1, 2007 in Latest News
Childhood obesity has been affecting millions of children in the US. All the hard-work and the sweat of the brows of parents is meant for no body but their children. All the pain the tension and the slogging that parents do, is to ensure that their children have a wealthy and healthy future.
But this extra care that parents take and the over possessiveness and fear of their children getting hurt is backfiring and causing more harm to children.
The fear that children will get hurt or strained prevents parents from sending their children out to play. Also, with the fear of accidents and kidnapping occurring, no parent would want their children to play outside.
So, the only resort children have is staying glued to the computer or the television for entertainment.
What parents do not realize is this technique is all the more damaging as staying in one place leads to the child becoming obese.
Obesity has several risks, overweight children are at
- Increased risk of impairment or death due to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- They face risks of bone and joint problems,
- Asthma
- Sleeping disorders (which can cause concentration problems in class),
- Emotional issues.
The main causes of childhood obesity include:
- Reduced activity levels – As mentioned above,with the time that children spend watching TV, using the computer and playing video games, they are getting less exercise.
- Increased consumption of foods that are high in sugar and fat – Today’s children eat as much as triple the amount of snack foods their counterparts were consuming just 20 years ago. In addition, there has been a doubling in their soft drink intake in that same time period.
Here are some ways you can prevent your child from suffering from the pangs of obesity
1) Stop being tensed about your child. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull Boy “is a true saying. Give your child his/her space and encourage them for taking part in any physical activity.
2) Don’t reward children with food. Candy and snacks as a reward encourage bad habits. Find other ways to celebrate good behavior. Spend time with them. Take them out for picnics. Reward them through positive feedback.
3) Practice what you preach. If you’re practicing healthy habits, it’s a lot easier to convince children to do the same. Incorporate healthy activities into the time you spend with children. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play hide-and-seek outside. Everyone will benefit from the exercise and the time together.
4) Encourage physical activities that children really enjoy. Remember that each child is unique and may have to experiment with many activities until he or she finds one that is enjoyable.
5) Limit TV, video game and computer time. Your child may not like it, but gradually with time will get accustomed to your demands.
6) Insist on good food choices at school cafeterias and vending machines.
Most importantly accept your child the way he/she is. It is not the child but the behavior that is most important in need of modification.
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