Giving Children a Healthy Start in Life
Health experts report the U.S. is in the midst of an obesity epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five children and adolescents are affected by obesity and at risk of poor health.
The CDC reports that from 2017-2020 the prevalence of obesity was 19.7%, affecting 14.7 million children and adolescents across the nation. It is a serious medical condition because it can lead to poor self-esteem, depression and health issues that were once considered adult problems – such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea, joint pain and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Recognizing and preventing childhood obesity can help protect your child’s health now and in the future. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the CDC sex-specific clinical growth charts. In simple terms, the BMI provides a guideline of weight in relation to height and is the accepted measure of obesity.
However, it is important to understand not all children carrying extra pounds are overweight. Some children have larger than average body frames and may have different amounts of body fat at various stages of development. This means your child’s appearance may not indicate if weight is a health concern. Your child’s doctor can use the BMI, growth charts and other tests to determine if obesity poses a serious health problem.
Obesity is complex, and many factors may contribute to a child’s excess weight gain. These include genetics, behavior, taking certain medications, and a variety of societal and community factors. According to the Mayo Clinic, many factors working in combination may increase your child’s risk of becoming overweight:
Diet. Regularly eating high-calorie foods, such as fast foods, baked goods and vending machine snacks, can cause your child to gain weight. Candy and desserts also can cause weight gain, and a growing amount of evidence points to sugary drinks, including fruit juices and sports drinks, as contributing to obesity in some people.
Lack of exercise. Children who lack regular exercise are more likely to gain weight because they do not burn as many calories. Too much time spent in sedentary activities, such as watching television or playing video games, also contributes to the problem. Many television advertisements also feature unhealthy foods.
Family factors. If your child comes from a family of overweight people, he or she may be more likely to put on weight. This is especially true in an environment where high-calorie foods are always available and physical activity is not encouraged.
Psychological factors. Personal, parental and family stress can increase a child’s risk of obesity. Some children overeat to cope with problems or deal with emotions, such as stress or boredom. Their parents might have similar tendencies.
Socioeconomic factors. People in some communities have limited resources and limited access to supermarkets. As a result, they might buy convenience foods that do not spoil quickly, such as frozen meals, crackers and cookies. Also, people who live in lower income neighborhoods might not have access to a safe place to exercise.
Certain medications. Some prescription drugs can increase the risk of developing obesity. They include prednisone, lithium, amitriptyline, paroxetine, gabapentin and propranolol.
To help prevent excess weight gain in your child, one of the best strategies is to improve the eating and exercise habits of your entire family. Some studies also indicate that getting too little sleep may increase the risk of obesity, so it is helpful to develop a balanced bedtime routine.
It is also important to have healthy snacks available, such as air-popped popcorn without butter, fruits with low-fat yogurt, baby carrots with hummus or whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk. Also, it is never a good idea to offer candy or other unhealthy foods as a reward for good behavior.
Finally, children should receive an annual health check-up. The pediatrician will consider your child’s history of growth and development, your family’s weight-for-height history, and where your child lands on the growth charts to determine if there are any warning signs of obesity.
Every child deserves a healthy start in life! Please click here for CDC obesity prevention strategies and guidelines.st always have prediabetes— a serious health condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
Pacific Federal is a Zenith American company and subsidiary of Harbour Benefit Holdings, Inc.
