overview
Childhood obesity is a serious disease that affects children and adolescents. This is particularly worrying as the extra pounds often puts children on the path to health problems that were once thought of as problems for adults – diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Obesity in children can also lead to low self-esteem and depression.
One of the best strategies for reducing childhood obesity is to improve the eating and exercise habits of your entire family. Treating and preventing obesity in children will protect your child’s health now and in the future. Childhood obesity Treatment in Khammam
symptoms
Not all children who carry extra pounds are overweight. Some children are taller than average. And children usually carry different amounts of body fat at different stages of development. So you may not know what your child looks like if weight is a health issue.
The Body Mass Index (BMI), which provides an indication of weight for height, is the accepted measure of overweight and obesity. Your child’s doctor may use growth charts, BMI, and other tests, if necessary, to determine if your child’s weight is potentially causing health problems.
The reasons
Lifestyle problems – too little activity and too many calories from food and drink – are the main contributors to obesity in children. But genetic and hormonal factors could also play a role.
Risk factors
Many factors, usually in combination, increase your child’s risk of becoming overweight:
- Diet. Regular consumption of high-calorie foods like fast foods, pastries, and snacks from vending machines can cause your child to gain weight. Sweets and desserts can also lead to weight gain, and there is increasing evidence that sugary drinks, including fruit juices and sports drinks, are the cause of obesity in some people.
- Sedentary lifestyle. Children who don’t exercise are more likely to gain weight because they don’t burn as many calories. Spending too much time on sedentary activities like watching TV or playing video games also contributes to the problem. Advertisements for unhealthy foods are common on television programs.
- Family factors. If your child comes from a family of overweight people, they are more likely to gain weight. This is especially true in an environment where high calorie foods are always available and physical activity is not encouraged. Childhood obesity Treatment in Khammam
- Psychological factors. Personal, parental, and family stress can increase a child’s risk of obesity. Some children overeat to cope with problems or emotions such as stress or boredom. Your parents may have similar tendencies.
- Socio-economic factors. People in some communities have limited resources and access to supermarkets. As a result, they can buy ready-made meals that don’t spoil quickly, like frozen meals, crackers, and cookies. In addition, people living in low-income areas may not have access to a safe place to exercise.
- Certain drugs. Certain prescription drugs can increase your risk of obesity. These include prednisone, lithium, amitriptyline, paroxetine (Paxil), gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) and propranolol (Inderal, Hemangeol).
prevention
To prevent your child from gaining excess weight, you can:
- Set a good example. Make healthy eating and regular physical activity a family affair. Everyone will benefit and no one will feel isolated.
- Have healthy snacks ready. Options include butterless air popcorn, fruit with low-fat yogurt, baby carrots with hummus, or whole grains with low-fat milk.
- Offer new foods several times. Don’t be discouraged if your child doesn’t like a new meal right away. It usually takes multiple exposures to a food to be accepted.
- Choose non-food rewards. Promising good behavior candy is a bad idea.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep. Some studies show that too little sleep can increase the risk of obesity. Sleep deprivation can lead to imbalances. Childhood obesity Treatment in Khammam