Childhood Obesity? Let’s Take It Head
On
Obesity
in children has increased exponentially over the last few decades.
In the United States, at least 20% of children
and adolescents are considered overweight or obese.
In
India also, there has been an alarming increase in the weight of children, with
many researchers reaching similar figures among affluent urban children.
What
has caused this rise?
The alarming increase has been fueled by the current
environment of decreased physical activity and intake of calorie dense, often
low in nutritive value foods. There has been a growing “Fast Food” culture with
higher trend of eating out, bigger portion size and consumption of ready to eat
packed foods. No wonder, international fast food chains are betting on India as
their next growth driver. Marketing strategies typically target children to get
them on these so called snacks, carbonated beverages from a young age.
Go to any supermarket store, candies and
chocolates are always placed near the cash counters to increase the sale of
these stuff- so called impulse purchases by the customers. This coupled with a
sedentary lifestyle and decreased physically activity make a potentially deadly
cocktail. Modes of transportation have become better and better and as a result
more and more drive rather than walk and cycle for not so long distances.
Central Board of Secondary education (CBSE) reported in 2007 that only 30% of
adolescents play an hour or more. Typically kids spend more time watching TV,
sitting in front of computer or playing video games rather than outdoor games.
What
can we do to tackle the menace?
The below mentioned recommendations have been found to be
helpful in tacking this growing menace. The earlier we start, the better and
easier it is for the child. After all it can be a lifelong chronic disease,
with potentially devastating complications and accelerates many of the “adult
diseases” in to childhood. Early diagnosis and
care can save people from a lot of hassles alongside preventing related chronic
diseases.
* Decrease the
consumption of sweetened carbonated beverages
* Limit watching of
TV (0 hours <2 years, <2 hours >2 years old).
* Remove TV from
primary sleeping area
* Eat breakfast
daily
* Limit eating out
and limit consumption of energy dense foods.
* Do not replace
snacks for meals
* Encourage family
meals
* Limit portion size
* Eat a diet with
balanced macronutrients, rich in calcium & high in fiber
* Breastfeeding
* Promote
moderate-vigorous activity 60 minutes a day.
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