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CHILDREN (II)
CHILDHOOD OBESITY
As 4,000 children die everyday for a lack of food in this article we will cover
overeating.
Childhood obesity is a serious problem since to a great percentage the obese
child will be an obese adult, with all the consequences of obesity.
This is a normal mass corporal table for children.
Age
(years)
|
Boy
|
Girl
|
|
2
|
16.4
|
16.4
|
|
3
|
16
|
15.7
|
|
4
|
15.7
|
15.4
|
|
5
|
15.5
|
15.1
|
|
6
|
15.4
|
15.2
|
|
7
|
15.5
|
15.5
|
|
8
|
15.8
|
15.8
|
|
9
|
16.1
|
16.3
|
|
10
|
16.3
|
16.8
|
|
11
|
17.2
|
17.5
|
|
12
|
17.8
|
18
|
|
13
|
18.2
|
18.6
|
|
14
|
19.1
|
19.4
|
|
15
|
19.8
|
19.9
|
|
16
|
20.5
|
20.4
|
|
17
|
21.2
|
20.9
|
|
18
|
21.9
|
21.3
|
Approximately 25% to 28% of children present childhood obesity but what has
become the most worrisome thing is that in the last 20 years it has increased
almost 60% more.
Childhood obesity has a genetic predisposition and we must add the following
factors:
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A lack of adequate information on nutrition for
parents |
|
Information about junk
food in the media |
|
The mistake in stimulating children on a basis of any food
high in calories |
|
Trying to compensate the physical absence of the parents
through foods high in calories |
|
The lack of an exercise program for children |
|
The
lack of promotion of healthy nutrients in the school stores |
|
The indiscriminate
increase of fast food restaurants |
|
The time spent by children in front of TV |
|
The
time that children spent on the computer or with interactive games |
|
The problem begins from the manner and type of food that the mother consumes
before conceiving, continues in the form and type of food during pregnancy, the
form and type of food during breast feeding, the first foods to the child and so
on and so forth.
The childhood obesity problem causes insecurity in the child and lowers his
self esteem, school discrimination, social discrimination, easy fatigue,
probable hypertension, probably hypercholesterolaemia, stretch marks and so on
with many other factors.
The important thing what we can do to prevent getting childhood obesity:
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Preach on the example |
|
Teach the child not to compensate nor gratify with food |
|
Always have handy fruit and/or vegetables so that the child may have easy access
to it in case of hunger |
|
Teach them to consume water or fruit drinks instead of
sodas |
|
Motivate the child towards developing a programmed physical activity |
|
Do
not forbid intake of high calorie foods but rather teach him that excessive use
of same will cause problems |
|
Do not doing anything else while eating (watch TV,
etc.) |
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Do not force the child to go on a diet. It is better to talk to him about
the subject in an effort to convince him |
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REMEMBER THAT IT IS MUCH EASIER TO PREVENT OBESITY THAN TO TRY TO REMEDY IT
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