Introduction Factors that contribute | Consequences | Psychological complications | Prevention A chubby child or even a plump teenager is no longer considered a healthy child! Changes in diet coupled with inactive lifestyles have sparked off childhood obesity in almost all countries and India is no exception. Childhood obesity is a major risk factor for adult obesity and it’s associated with chronic killer diseases. Worried your child or teenager might be overweight or obese?
Factors that contribute to childhood obesity Childhood obesity is one of the rising concerns in today’s time. While lifestyle is the prime reason for this one, there can be other factors too. There are 3 main factors that may cause childhood obesity. We list them down for you. 1) Lack of Physical Activity/Sedentary Lifestyle 2) Heredity and Family 3) Unhealthy Dietary Habits
Consequences of childhood obesity Childhood obesity can lead to a number of health concerns. That is why it is very much important to keep an eye if your kid is healthy or gaining abnormal weight. 1) Adult Obesity
2) Type 2 Diabetes
3) Hypertension
4) High Cholesterol
5) Cancer
6) Sleep Apnea
7)Heart Disease
8) Bone-Joint problems/Gout
9) Non- Alcoholic Fatty liver Disease (NAFLD)
Psychological Complications of Childhood Obesity An obese child doesn’t just face a huge weight to carry, there are other factors that come into play and losing confidence is one of them. Childhood obesity brings along many psychological side-effects in the kid. 1) Low self Esteem
2) Increased loneliness and sadness
3) Depression
4) Poor Academic Performance
5) Lack of self-confidence and victims of bullying in school.
Tips to Prevent Childhood Obesity ● ● ● ● ● ●
Parents should take special care to make sure that their children follow a healthy lifestyle. Parents should encourage their children to walk, cycle and to be involved in physically active games/sports. They should totally discourage sedentary habits in children like spending a lot of time using mobile phones, TV etc. Parents should set an example to their children at home by incorporating healthy eating habits and lifestyle modifications. Care must be given to strictly avoid unhealthy fast foods with empty calories and no nutritional value. School authorities should take extra care to provide healthy alternatives in the school canteen and to give extra physical education hours in the school curriculum.