the effects of Obesity in children and society
Childhood obesity is a condition in which excess fats accumulate in the body of children aged below five years. A standard measure of determining Obesity is by use of Body Mass Index. It is calculated as Child’s weight in kilograms per square of height in meters. This article seeks to address the causes of childhood obesity, the effects of Obesity in children and society, preventive measures against Obesity, and the appropriate suggestions on the problem.
The principal source of Obesity is an increase in the consumption of food with a high proportion of sugars and fats. The majority of such foods are mainly factory processed with chemicals used as preservatives, and upon consumption, chemicals are transferred into the body. The ultimate effect of consuming them results in health problems such as abnormal growth in hormones leading to overweight. Alternatively, the preservatives make children resistant to drugs leading to an increase in vulnerability to lifestyle diseases where Obesity is one of them (Causes and Consequences of Childhood Obesity.2019)
Changes in lifestyle are also a significant cause of childhood obesity. Children born in a more comfy environment hardly exercise; they spend most of their time playing indoor games and watching.
Consequently, they do little house chores in their homes and get driven to school. Such comforts make their bodies less active and accumulate more fats, which make them get tired quickly to engage in physical exercises. Finally, they suffer from Obesity and fail to benefit the enthusiasm associated with childhood (Goran, 2016).
In our current society, parents have become too busy with their children. They fail to teach their children on healthy nutrients because they have dedicated all house chores to their house helpers. Children decide what to eat, and possibly they choose junk food since they like them. Such food contains a lot of fats that are easily absorbed into their bodies. Consuming them everyday piles up fat in their bodies, causing Obesity.
Childhood obesity harms health. It causes diseases such as diabetes, diseases of the heart, and cancer that mainly affect the digestive system. Overweight children fail to exercises their bodies well, causing excess thickness along with the muscles in the heart. This leads to high blood pressure. Consuming a lot of sugars causes diabetes mellitus and insipidus, which poses a severe diet restriction on children. If these diseases cannot be managed earlier, it might lead to death (Segel, 2011)
Parents have no choice but to take care of the cost of treating and managing Obesity. A lot of funds are spent on managing those diseases thus affecting the economy indirectly by decreasing investment capacity (Segel 2011)
There are several problems associated with the handling of childhood obesity. Children cannot manage the problem by themselves. Parents and guardians have to support them in creating awareness on healthy feeding patterns. Alternatively, due to existing economic conditions, the cost of essential meals may be too costly for the parents to provide. Such situations live the kids to survive with the available and affordable choices of food (Warren & Smalley2013).
Preventive measures of childhood Obesity have been put across by health experts. New and upcoming parents should be made aware of healthy feeding programs suitable for infants. They should ensure that they feed their children with a well-balanced diet with no junk items in their meals. An appropriate portion of each nutrient must be provided in their suitable quantities to avoid overfeeding and wasting food (Waters, Swinburn, Seidell, & Uauy, 2011).
The government should enact policies and rules mitigating advertisements on junk food. This limits the exposure of children to unhealthy consumption of such food. Another government policy is ensuring that there are enough playing grounds in all learning institutions. They should be well equipped with varieties of playing tools favoring all kinds of sporting activities. Hence, it helps children in exercising their bodies to reduce the risk of getting obese.
Parents should limit purchasing food rich in calories. This enhances children’s perception that such foods are not the main dishes and not meant for every day. Also, including children in determining the type of food to cook to expose them to a change in diet, and they will learn varieties of healthy food. Outdoor family exercises and activities should also be encouraged, such as taking walks, riding bicycles, and taking part in engaging games. Parents should consider a homestead with a playing space to help their kids to exercise, thus mitigating the chances of Obesity.
Assessments of strategies cited above should be monitored closely by the concerned agencies to ensure they are successful and helpful to the kids. They are illustrated by factors like an increase in the number of children participating in sporting activities and a decrease in the advertisement of junk foods on the television. Parents should also be taking part in sporting with their children.
In summary, childhood obesity resulted mainly due to changes in lifestyle, especially in a more modernized state. Since Obesity develops from certain habits, it can be rectified before it causes severe damages to the body. Parents should be on the lead to be educated on proper meals to offer their children to avoid this obesity pandemic.
References
Causes and Consequences of Childhood Obesity. (2019, February 8). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html
Goran, M. I. (2016). Childhood Obesity: Causes, Consequences, and Intervention Approaches. CRC Press.
Segel, C. M. (2011). Childhood Obesity: Risk Factors, Health Effects, and Prevention. Nova Science Pub.
Warren, J., & Smalley, K. B. (2013). Always the Fat Kid: The Truth About the Enduring Effects of Childhood Obesity. St. Martin’s Press.
Waters, E., Swinburn, B., Seidell, J., & Uauy, R. (2011). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Evidence Policy and Practice. John Wiley & Sons.