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Article of the Day
Childhood Obesity,
determination of over weight, maintain a healthy weight
Childhood
obesity is now becoming a very serious problem in the world.
There has been an increase in the incidence and prevalence of
medical conditions in children and adolescents that had been
rare in the past. Pediatricians and childhood obesity
researchers are reporting more frequent cases of
obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, asthma and
hypertension that once were considered adult conditions.
What is a healthy weight for a child?
In adults, a simple formula (the body mass index, or BMI) is
used to work out whether a person is the right weight for
their height.
However, BMI alone is not an appropriate measure for children
- it has to be used alongside charts that take into account
the child’s rate of growth, sex and age - and is best
interpreted with the help of your GP, health visitor, practice
nurse or dietician.
It is possible to measure the proportion of a child’s weight
that is made up of fat. Generally speaking, a child’s weight
is classed as obese when their body weight is more than 25%
fat in boys and 32% in girls.
There are
some signs that may help you determine if your child has or is
at risk for childhood obesity, such as:
Family
history of obesity-related health risks such as early
cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure
levels, type 2 diabetes.
Family
history of cigarette smoking and sedentary behaviors.
Signs in
the child of obesity-related health risks from a
pediatrician's evaluation including:
Cardiac
Risk Factors. Studies of children with obesity show higher
than average blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output
when compared to children without obesity.
Type 2
Diabetes Risk Factors. This involves glucose intolerance and
insulin levels that are higher than average.
Orthopedic Problems. Some symptoms include weight stress in
the joints of the lower limbs, tibial torsion and bowed legs,
and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (especially in boys).
Skin
disorders. Some are heat rash, intertrigo, monilial dermatitis
and acanthosis nigricans.
Psychological / Psychiatric Issues. Poor self-esteem, negative
self-image, depression, and withdrawal from peers have been
associated with obesity.
Patterns
of sedentary behavior (such as too much television viewing)
and low physical activity levels.
Taller
height - children with obesity are often above the 50th
percentile in height.
Smoking
initiation. Research studies show that youngsters use smoking
as a method of weight control. Parents, pediatricians and
schools should work together to discourage smoking as a weight
control behavior for three main reasons: a) smoking is not
likely to be successful in controlling weight, b) smoking is
itself harmful, and c) smoking is associated with a decrease
in sound nutrition and physical activity patterns.
How can Parents maintain a healthy weight in children.
According to expert’s the most children who are overweight
should not be encouraged to actually lose weight. Instead they
are encouraged to maintain their weight, so they gradually
"grow into it" as they get taller.
Children should never be put on a weight-loss diet without
medical advice as this can affect their growth. Unregulated
dieting – particularly in teenage girls – is thought to lead
to the development of eating disorders. See the separate BUPA
factsheets on Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa.
No drug treatment has been proven effective in the treatment
of weight problems in children.
Helping children to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
involves a threefold approach that encourages them to:
-
eat a
healthy, well-balanced diet
-
make
changes to eating habits
-
reduce
physical inactivity
The good news is that all the evidence shows that it is much
easier to change a child’s eating and exercise habits than it
is to alter an adult’s.
Parents should concern for a healthy well-balanced diet
Parents concerned about their child’s weight should encourage
a variety of fresh, nutritious foods in his or her diet.
-
Starchy
foods, which are rich in "complex carbohydrates", are bulky
relative to the amount of calories they contain. This makes
them filling and nutritious. Sources such as bread,
potatoes, pasta, rice and chapatti should provide half the
energy in a child’s diet.
-
Instead
of high-fat foods like chocolate, biscuits, cakes and
crisps, try healthier alternatives such as fresh fruit,
crusty bread or crackers.
-
Try to
grill or bake foods instead of frying. Burgers, fish fingers
and sausages are just as tasty when grilled, but have a
lower fat content. Oven chips are lower in fat than fried
chips.
-
Avoid
fizzy drinks that are high in sugar. Substitute them with
fresh juices diluted with water or sugar-free alternatives.
-
A
healthy breakfast of a low-sugar cereal (eg wholemeal wheat
biscuits) with milk, plus a piece of fruit is a good start
to the day.
-
Instead
of sweets, offer dried fruit or tinned fruit in natural
juice. Frozen yoghurt is an alternative to ice cream. Bagels
are an alternative to doughnuts.
Top Referred
Sources / Websites for Today's Topic.
(Please log on to below links to find more detail of today's
topic)
http://www.bma.org.uk
http://news.bbc.co.uk
http://www.aap.org/obesity/
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk
http://www.kidshealth.org
http://www.ext.vt.edu
http://pediatrics.about.com
http://www.kidsnutrition.org
http://familydoctor.org
http://search.excite.co.uk
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