Childhood obesity is a medical condition affecting children of all ages. As of October 2022, South African children showed an 87 percent higher risk of obesity than East African children. Childhood obesity can lead to immediate health problems and be an indicator for future health issues like high cholesterol and diabetes.
Improving your child’s eating and exercise routines is one of the most effective strategies for reducing childhood obesity.
Childhood symptoms of obesity include:
It is important for children to consume a specific amount of calories for healthy development. However, consuming more calories than they burn results in their bodies storing the extra calories as fat. The following factors may contribute to obesity in children.
Behaviour: Shared family practices like inactivity and eating patterns can influence obesity in children. Families with active schedules are likelier to consume calorie-dense beverages and foods. These foods and beverages typically lack vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
Genetics: Obesity in children can be made more likely by genetic factors. Children with obese siblings or parents may be more likely to develop obesity. Research reveals that numerous genes may be responsible for weight gain. Although obesity is a family trait, not all children with a family history of the condition will develop it.
Obesity in children increases the likelihood of your child experiencing future medical problems and can have an immediate negative impact on their health. Children who are obese are more likely to experience the following weight-related complications:
Obesity can have a serious detrimental impact on a child’s mental health and contribute to issues like:
Childhood obesity can be analyzed when a child’s body mass index is at or over the 95th percentile of the sex-explicit BMI-for-age development outlines. If your child’s BMI is higher than that of 95% of other children their age and gender, they are in the 95th percentile.
However, because children grow at different rates, BMI can sometimes be misleading. A healthcare professional will typically consider additional factors when making a diagnosis, such as:
Maintaining a healthy weight is the primary goal of any obesity treatment. This improves general health and lowers the likelihood of issues associated with fat.
Common obesity treatments for children include:
Circumstances where we live, learn, work, and play can make healthy eating and physical activity challenging if these conditions do not support health. There is not one solution to address childhood obesity, there are a variety of ways parents can help children maintain a healthy weight. These include:
Leading by example: Parents’ behaviours and lifestyles can directly impact a child’s well-being. Your child is more likely to engage in physical activity and eat healthy meals when they see others around them being active.
Planning family activities: Exercising together and engaging in physical activities like swimming, walking, and biking can ensure family health and prevent weight gain in children, reducing the risk of obesity.
Sleep Routings: Studies have demonstrated that good sleep can help prevent type 2 diabetes, obesity, short attention spans, behavior and injuries in children. The exact link between sleep and childhood obesity is unknown, one reason might be lack of energy.
Screen Time: Children who spend a lot of time watching tv, on cellular devices, or on computers can result in poor sleep, weight gain, mental health issues, and lower grades in school.
If you are concerned about possible health risks associated with access weight in your child, speak with your doctor to help adopt healthy routines and support for your child.