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In a world where body diversity and different shapes and sizes are celebrated, one major concern still looms large; obesity. Obesity can present significant challenges, leading to various health issues, lifestyle changes, and even impacting an individual’s mental health. Childhood obesity is a pressing issue, and its prevalence is alarmingly high. Surprisingly, approximately 1 in 5 American children is clinically obese as early as primary school (1).
Childhood obesity is a global problem that requires urgent attention. Raising an obese child comes with its unique set of challenges, and no parent wants their child to struggle with excess weight. While it’s important to acknowledge that most children gain unwanted weight due to their lifestyle and eating habits, for which parents bear primary responsibility, there’s no need to blame yourself. In this article, we’ll explore the complexities of childhood obesity and discuss how your child can make healthier choices to overcome this challenge. Read on to learn more!
Why Is Weight Gain Such An Issue Amongst Kids?
Childhood obesity is a critical issue that demands attention for various compelling reasons. An overweight or obese child faces clear disadvantages, particularly in terms of health. Excessive weight has strong associations with a multitude of health challenges, including type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and joint pain (2). Furthermore, it significantly elevates the risk of obesity and mortality in adulthood. Research indicates that clinically obese children are more likely to grapple with weight issues as they grow into adulthood. Unfortunately, obesity is also connected to higher mortality rates, which means that overweight individuals tend to have a shorter lifespan (3).
How Parents Make Their Kids Fat And Ways To Avoid It
1. Being A Bad Example
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As much as you’d like to wash your hands off of this one, it is your responsibility as your child’s parents to ensure that they are in good health. To your child, you are their hero and they will want to do everything you do. This means that if you don’t make healthy choices, neither will they. If you are an overweight parent then you are sending the message that it is okay to not be healthy to your kids and that’s not okay at all. Since they want to be and look like you, your kids will start gaining weight too. Kids also watch what you do. So be sure to make yourself healthy meals, eat your veggies and work out. Having an exercise routine is a great way to ensure that you and your little one stay fit and as far away from obesity as possible. Keep in mind that an unhealthy lifestyle results in fat accumulation, which eventually causes weight problems.
2. Being Too Busy To Cook
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It’s true that the world we live in is becoming fast paced and busy but this doesn’t mean that you skip out on prioritizing your health and that of your kids. Don’t consider cooking good home cooked meals a time wasting chore. It makes a huge difference at the end of the day. It’s tempting to simply order food instead of spending a lot of time in the kitchen but it is well worth it. Fast food is full of preservatives and unhealthy ingredients that are going to have a long term adverse effect on your health. What your child needs are meals packed with nutrients that will help them grow and develop both physically and mentally.
If what hinders you is the time crunch during the week, try meal prepping on weekends. There are several quick and tasty recipes that you can look up that won’t take you more than 20 minutes to cook up. If all else fails, several food companies have started selling a package of ingredients together with simple instructions. All you need to do is follow them and enjoy a healthy delicious meal in 10 minutes. When healthy meals are this accessible, it would be a shame to order pizza every day.
3. Keeping The Kids Glued To Electronic Gadgets
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We understand that you might be feeling exhausted and tempted to resort to giving your child an iPad or turning on the TV when they seem to have boundless energy. However, this should be a last resort in any scenario. It’s crucial for your child to learn how to entertain themselves and expend their energy through more active pursuits. Prolonged TV watching often leads to uncontrolled snacking on unhealthy foods, contributing to weight gain. It creates a detrimental cycle that can be challenging to break.
As hard as it might be to hear, knowing about the pitfalls of obesity is something to take to heart. We all want our kids to be happy and healthy. So in order to do that, take these small measures to ensure that your child stays fit and fine. Happy parenting.
