Statistics reveal a worrying trend that child obesity is constantly on the rise. It is a sensitive issue to their health up until they transition to adulthood.
The key remedy is ensuring that a child puts on a healthy weight and makes good lifestyle choices. They need help to abstain from calorie-rich foods, and to maintain a healthy diet. As a child grows up, they should get enough sleep, avoid long screen time and be physically active.
Let’s review the importance of childhood obesity prevention and treatment.
The importance
It is easy to ignore a child that gains weight in the current age. The number of obese children is high that most parents or guardians may not see an issue with it. However, obesity has negative consequences, as it places a child at risk of health conditions and uncomfortable situations.
Some of them include;
- Social isolation
- Depression
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Type 2 diabetes
A child’s obesity needs to be dealt with earlier to reduce the chances of them developing these conditions. It gets even worse if the stay obese for long. They will easily contract these chronic conditions and they are hard to treat given that they are obese.
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Tips to prevention and treatment
Maintaining healthy eating
Eating unhealthy foods is one of the main causes of obesity, and you should break this cycle. A child might be unaware of what they are eating, and as an adult you need to guide them. Here are the changes you should adopt.
Limit saturated fat, sugar and fizzy drinks consumption. Instead, increase plant-based proteins in their diet such as beans and lentils. You should also opt for lean meats from fish and poultry, rather than beef.
Ensure that they get whole grains, fruits and vegetables in their diet. Lastly, they should drink lots of water. The weight loss clinic in Chicago recommends that children drink between 4 to 8 cups daily and top up with other fluids and beverages. The intake should increase as they grow older.
Increase physical activity
It does not matter whether a child is obese or not, for them to take part in physical activity. They need to burn calories everyday, and the long-term advantage is that they will maintain a lean and healthy body. Here’s how to do it.
You should spare at least an hour daily for physical activity. It will help them burn more calories and get their fitness on track. It does not have to be one long session. You can break it down to smaller 5 minute and 10 minute sessions.
Suitable exercises for smaller children include see-saws, climbing frames, swinging, riding scooters, chasing games and ball games. If they are older, you can take them out for martial arts, dancing, swimming, skipping, skateboarding or riding a bike.
Adequate sleep and low sedentary time
Sleeping helps children to be more active during the day, and not eat much. If a child is schooling, they need to sleep for 9 to 12 hours daily. If they are younger, the recommended standard is about 12 to 16 hours. Naps are also important for rest in the daytime.
Good quality sleep comes with the reduction of sedentary time. It involves minimizing web surfing, playing video games and watching TV. Instead, children should participate in more beneficial activities such as doing their homework, reading and getting physically active.
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Final thoughts
Taking care of your child’s weight is as important as other aspects in their life. This guide gives you essential lifestyle tips to help your child maintain a healthy weight. You can consult the Weight Loss Clinic in Chicago to get more guidance to treat obesity. It shouldn’t have to be a problem that you deal with alone.
