Childhood Obesity - the Alternative Remedies that Really Work

A national survey in Spain revealed that 1 out of every 3 children is either overweight or obese. In just 10 years between 1985 and 1995, childhood obesity tripled in Australia. In the last three decades, obesity in children aged 6 to 11 has more than tripled in the United States. Childhood obesity is also extending to developing countries. Therefore many asked what could we do?

What causes obesity? The Mayo clinic, in the United States, says: although there are some genetic and hormonal causes of childhood obesity, most excess weight is caused by kids eating too much and exercising too little.

How to fight teen’s obesity.

Nutritionists do not recommend putting children on a restrictive diet, as this may compromise their growth and health. Rather the Mayo clinic states: “One of the best strategies to combat excess weight in your children is to improve the diet and exercise levels of your entire family”.

Parents can do much to reduce or fight teen’s obesity. The national institute of hearth and the mayo clinic in the US recommends:

1 Buy and serve more fruits and vegetables than convenience foods

2 Limit soft drinks, sweetened beverages, and high-fat sugary snack foods. Instead offer water or low-fat milk and healthful snacks.

3 Use cooking methods that are lower in fat, such as baking, broiling and steaming instead of frying.

4 Serve smaller portions.

5 Avoid using food as reward or as a bribe.

6 Do not allow children to skip breakfast. Skipping it may lead to over eating later.

7 Sit at the table to eat. Eating in front a TV or a computer screen promotes consumption and lessens awareness of feeling full.

8 Encourage physical activity, such as bike riding, playing ball, and jumping rope.

9 Limit time spent on watching TV, using the computer, and playing video games.

10 Plan active family outings, such as visiting the zoo, going swimming, or playing in the park.

11 Assign active chores to your children.

12 Set the example in healthful eating and exercise.

You can succeed in this fight against childhood obesity if you make healthful habits a family commitment. If you do, they will become a way of life for your children, carrying over into adulthood.

childhood Obesity - the role of parents

Childhood obesity has become a global pandemic in recent years. Many countries including developing nations has experienced three fold increase in teen’s obesity. The fight against this scourge has largely been unsuccessful because people have not developed the right attitude. This fight cannot be left to the teenager who do not really understands all consequences of his actions, even at that he is too inexperienced to face this problem alone.

Parents, guardians, counselors, teachers and school authorities must be actively involve in this struggle if will ever win the battle against teens obesity. The issues of overweight are very complex. Every year about 100 million Americans go on a diet. However, about 95% returns to their old lifestyles, as a result they regain the weight they had loss in less than five years. What are needed to loss weight and keep it off are complete lifestyle changes. This requires the right motivation, concerted effort and commitment.

One of the major causes of childhood obesity is children eating much meat and many dairy products, baked goods, fast foods, snacks, fried foods, sauces, gravies, and oils are loaded with fat, and eating them can lead to childhood obesity.

To fight teen’s obesity successfully you must reduce fat intake. If you consumes more calories than your body can expend you are bound to gain weight. Burn more calories than you take in everyday is an effective therapy. We take in more calories when we consume fat, because one gram of fat has nine calories compared to four for protein or carbohydrates. Also the human body burns carbohydrate and protein first, and then any unused fat is converted to body fat.

In many countries today there is easy access to television. As a result children stays for

Hours watching cartoons. What are the effects? Increased television viewing encourages

Both slot and gluttony. In the USA, children sit and watch an estimated 26 hours of TV

Program each week. In the meantime, only about 36 percents of the school still have

Physical education.

Another important factor we want to consider is that many of us eat out of emotional

Needs. Happiness or sadness should not make us to eat. Many people today see foods as

Ready alternative to many things. Children must avoid that tendency. Do some other

Things, such a walk, little exercise, listening to music and talk to a trusted friend.

We can win the fight against teen’s obesity if we encourage our children to reduce time

Spent watching TV, assist them in outdoor activities, eat in moderation and above all

Encourage them to embrace healthful lifestyle.

How to Win the Fight Against Childhood Obesity.

This is not the type of international crisis you know ranges on in some far away places but has no real meaning in your life. Neither is it the kind of misfortune or misery you see on TV. This is happening in your home and is tearing your beloved family apart. Childhood obesity affects you and your children. It walks in uninvited and unwilling to go. But you can arrest this pandemic called Teens obesity. However, if you are lazy and desperate you can leave now.

Obesity among children has reached an epidemic proportions in many lands including poorer nation, therefore no family is immune any longer. Childhood obesity can cause a lot of complications, which include: diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Reflecting on this sad reality, pediatric surgeon Dr Francisco Gonzalez warns that this may be “ the first generation to die before their parents from the complications of teens obesity,” but such an outcome can be avoided.

Kids eating too much and excercising too little cause most excess weight. Therefore parents, both parents or as the case may apply in a single parent family must make sure kids do not eat too much. The best way to do this is to make sure that children don’t skip break fast, as this always result in excessive eating latter. Children should be taught simple excises that effectively prevent weight gain. If you take them to school everyday, why not stop some distances and allow them to walk the remains to school? The distance walk should be varied every day. Clam the stairs with them instead of taking the lift.

Working parents must not turn fast food outlets into family kitchen. Take time to prepare nutritious foods for your family. Fast foods are typically high in sugar and fats and are offered in temptingly large sizes. Never should you replace milk and water with soft drinks as the beverages of choice.

You can prevent or reduce excess weight not by putting children on restrictive diet, as this may compromise their growth or health. Instead, improve the diets are exercise levels of the entire family. Make healthful habits a family commitment.

Parents should buy and serve more fruits and vegetables more than convenience foods. However, care need to be exercised in case of leafy vegetables, this should not be eating raw as it may result in complications. Leafy vegetables must be cooked to appropriate degree but not excessive.

Do not eat in front of the TV or computer screens as these has the tendency for promoting over eating and lessens awareness of feeling full. Always eat sitting at table. At the same time avoid rushing foods as this has also be found to be responsible for excessive weight gain. There is usually some time interval before your brain alerts you that you are full

The reason why many fail is that they quit, therefore if experience relapse re-strategies. Please do not become desperate or lazy. Practice one thing at a time, as trying too many may frustrate you. With a little more effort and determination success is assured. Childhood obesity can be overcome.