OBESITY

Obesity – A serious concern amidst children and teens.

It’s truly a call to action. It’s truly a wake-up call. Obesity amidst the younger brigade is a growing concern the world over with India being no exception. The time has come to set the clock right, before we have to deal with a generation of unhealthy adults, with life style disorders at an alarmingly early age. Picking the right food in the market, using the right ingredients and ordering the right kind of ready to eat food, is not an option but an obligation for both the caregiver and the target audience.

Statistics reveal that over 38 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2019. Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016. Obesity is Preventable so that’s something which needs to be kept in mind. Parents often complain that my child is always hungry, but in that case Emotional hunger needs to be ruled out, which means eating to deal with feelings. Physical hunger is the body’s signal that it needs energy and nutrients. Do not be afraid to let your child feel either type of hunger once in a while. With hormonal changes and growth spurts children experience greater hunger, too.

There are a lot of complications of childhood obesity and some of them are mentioned below,

1) Type 2 Diabetes.
2) High blood pressure and elevated blood cholesterol.
3) Bone and joint problems.
4) Respiratory problems such as asthma.
5) Earlier than normal puberty or menstruation.
6 )Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.

Incase your child is overweight which defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex, for example, a 10-year-old boy of average height (56 inches) who weighs 102 pounds would have a BMI of 22.9 kg/m2, work out a fitness and a diet regime for the child with immediate effect.

Here are few key ways you can help your child maintain a healthy weight:

Be a good role model.
Encourage 60 minutes, and up to several hours, of physical activity a day.
Keep to child-sized portions.
Eat healthy meals, drinks and snacks.
Less screen time and more sleep.
Periodically move around in your seat.
Stand while talking or eating lunch.
Have organised breaks in between class time.
Drink 3 litres of water.
Avoid junk food.
Regular meal timings should be followed.
Balanced meals with green leafy vegetables,
Avoid large gaps between meals.