Did you know that it’s typical for children to gain weight as they grow? Extra infrequent pounds are needed to support growth and development. How do parents know when weight gain is normal and when you ought be concerned about a child’s weight gain? When should your child lose weight?
Childhood obesity is a growing trouble in America and in Europe. When a youngster is well above normal weight for their height, the child might be obese and approaching dangerous health issues.
Children do confront the same health problems that obese adults confront such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension (high blood pressure). Parents can fight back by making sure their children eat a diet that is wholesome and that they stay physically active everyday. Your child’s doctor can give you guidelines for physical exercise. They can also suggest to you a registered dietitian or nutritionist that can help you create a healthy diet for your child’s age.
If your child is overweight and in need of weight loss help, you might want to know what caused your youngster to have this problem. There are numerous causes for excess weight gain to include genetic and hormonal causes; consumng too much and not getting enough exercise. Eating and exercise habits or lan there of are by far the most common causes for childhood weight problems. But a small number of children may have certain diseases that contribute to the problems. These include Cushing’s syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome.
Is your child at risk for having a weight issue that requires him or her to be working on losing weight?
Risk factors for childhood obesity are many and include a diet that is made up of fast foods, baked goods, vending machine snacks, high-fat foods and processed foods. These food items are easily available and, in the fast-paced world of today, kids often choose food that is tasty, quick and easy. Unfortunately, foods that are sold in vending machines or at fast-food restaurants normally contain a high calorie count along with that convenience and good taste.
Other risk factors are lack of activity, genetics, psychological factors and family factors. Kids who have overweight family members might be genetically predisposed to put on excess weight as they grow, particularly if family factors are unhealthy. Family factors might be those that result from family routines. Like eating in front of the TV, eating lots of salty, fatty or sweet foods, having a lot of take-out or fast-food meals because parents work and it’s easier to pick-up a meal than to cook it. Psychological risk factors would be those that are affiliated to kids not being able to cope with emotional problems, stress or boredom and use food to compensate.
To get more information on how to prevent childhood obesity, visit Dave Owen’s site “Facts About Childhood Obesity”. You will find many ways to help your child loose weight and gain self-esteem.
