How to prevent your child from getting obese?


Obesity is an excess of fat that’s generally 20 % or more above the ideal body weight for a person’s age and height. It results when a person takes in or consumes more calories than he expends. Simply put the child eats more calories then his body burns.

Obesity in childhood and adolescence can be related to these factors:

• Sedentary lifestyles (couch potato children due to increased television viewing and decreased physical activity)

• Over eating

• Poor eating habits

• Stressful changes or life events, such as divorce, death and abuse

• Low self esteem

• Depression

• Family problems or problems with peers


The etiology of obesity is complex and usually multifaceted and the theories to explain this condition include:

• Genetic disposition - obesity in parents increases the probability of obesity in children , a child of parents with obesity has an 80 % chance of having obesity as a child.

• Biological factors – certain diseases and endocrine and metabolic problems can contribute to childhood obesity.

• Psychological factors – eating gives older children and adolescence a sense of well being, satiety and security – feelings that were developed when they ate during infancy.

Observation and comparison of height and weight to standard table indicate obesity. Measurement of the thickness of subcutaneous fat folds with calipers provides an approximation of total body fat. Body index mass can be calculated by dividing a person weight by the square of his heights. Obesity may lead to serious complications such as respiratory difficulties, hypertension, cardiovascular, disease, diabetes mellitus and renal disease as well as psychosocial difficulties.


You can prevent obesity by means of:

• Avoiding fast food establishments
• Proving low fat alternative for after school snacks
• Switching from whole milk to skin milk
• Exchanging fresh vegetables for fried snack foods
• Offering a variety of fresh and dried fruits

You can consult a doctor for more medical advice.

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