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Not long ago, my neighbor took her 6 year old son to his pediatrician for a routine examination. After which she was shocked to learn that the twenty pounds he had gained in the past year placed him on the charts as obese. Her son had always been "stocky", but he had always experienced growth spurts that seemed to keep him within the normal ranges of other children his age. Why didn't my neighbor recognize her child was obese? Because, oddly enough, "Obesity tends to be in the eye of the beholder." Many parents are simply in denial, especially when the overweight child is very young. Parents often overlook their child's weight problem by believing it is something they will outgrow. The seriousness of obesity in children has led to many government studies. One such study in 2002 indicated that 15 percent of children between the ages of 6 - 19 are dangerously overweight. A more recent study done in January, 2004 indicated that 31 percent of teenage girls and 28 percent of teenage boys are somewhat overweight, but "an additional 15 percent of teenage girls and 14 percent of teenage boys are obese. How is it determined that someone is obese? The numbers here vary by source, but to give you a general range, if a child weighs more than 20 percent above the expected weight for their age, height, and body build, they are considered to be obese. As these numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate, we might ask ourselves "what is causing our children to become obese" and "why is it on the rise"? There is no one cause for obesity, but several factors stood out as being notably different today than in any other time. Today we live in a "fast food", "convenience food" world, and very few people can say that their eating habits are not affected. Our children live a much more sedentary lifestyle than generations before them. It was also interesting to note the biological link between stress and the drive to eat. Comfort foods that are readily available seem to calm the body's response to chronic stress. "In addition, hormones produced when one is under stress encourage the formation of fat cells." With childhood obesity reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, many states are mandating the measurement of BMI in preschoolers and school children, hoping to get a grip on the situation. The consequences of obesity are having a dramatic effect of the quality of peoples lives. Many overweight and obese children suffer a loss of self esteem, and are embarrassed or humiliated by their peers. These children also face serious health risks such as the development of type-2 diabetes, hypertension and gallbladder problems, which can leave serious long-term damage. Just as a note, "twenty-five years ago, type 2 diabetes - which is caused by obesity and inactivity - was considered a disease that afflicted only adults. Today, type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in children .... one out of four overweight children is developing diabetes." Type 2 diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and amputations. You CAN do something to stop this dreaded disease! Dealing with weight problems as a family is a good idea. Don't single out the overweight child. Don't announce plans to change the way your family eats. The best way to bring about positive change is to introduce it gradually with as little fuss as possible. When grocery shopping, leave your children at home if possible, and forget the chips and fatty snacks. Load up on fruits, vegetables, popcorn and pretzels instead. One of the best ways to help your overweight child to slim down is by using the principal of substitution. When your child starts digging around looking for something to eat, if he is really hungry he will improvise. If not, he will do without. In doing this, you will be able to exert some measure of control over what your child is eating without ever saying a word. Getting the family involved in physical activities not only brings the family closer together, it is an important factor in losing weight and reducing stress. Make time to go for a hike, ride bikes, swim, or ski. You'll be glad you did.
Article Source: http://www.bharatbhasha.net Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.net/health.php/25629 LD | ||||||||
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