How to Avoid Child Obesity

Children of any age do not feed themselves; they don't go to the supermarket and buy their food. They do not decide on the weekly menu. They do not buy sodas or artificial snacks; they eat what you, as a parent, give them to eat. We all know that school meals lack a lot in nutrition and are abundant on carbohydrates. As parents we also know that many times it has been easier to buy fast food on the way home after a tough day than it is to cook something nutritious and healthy. We are responsible for our children's well-being; it is our hands to prevent our child from becoming a diabetic at an early age.

There are things you can do before it is too late, now is the time to do them. There isn't much you can do about the school menu, but you can speak with the person in charge of the cafeteria to keep your child away from the mashed potatoes and fried food. Ask this person to help you by giving your child salad, fruit and food which has little or no fat and carbohydrates. If this does not work, pack him a lunch to take to school. A little sacrifice on your part will go a long way for your child's health.

Plan your dinner menus ahead of time. Keep the carbohydrates down and add more fresh products like salad and less pasta and fatty foods. We know you are tired after a long day at work so program to do part of the week's cooking on Saturday or Sunday, put it in the fridge so all you have to do is warm it up and serve. This will save you preparation time and will be easier on your tired feet and brain. Avoid second servings for the children and taking their dinner to their rooms. Dinner at the table allows for family time and it also permits you to control food intake.

If your kids do not like sports, it is fine too. Take them for a walk in the park, or cruise the mall with them for half an hour to one hour. Believe it or not, walking is a great exercise and calorie burner. Keep a tight control over games, computers and television sets, assign your children shores in the garden and pay them a little something when these shores are done. The exercise, the sun, the job and payment will do wonders for their spirits and bodies too. You have to be creative to keep them on the move, hibernating or hanging out on a cushion or bed is bad for them. Plan trips to the local museum or amusement park, or swimming pool; make them walk, make them move around, exercise is the key to health.

Sweets, junk food and sodas are your greatest enemies. Do not keep them at home, this does not mean you will never eat or drink them; sure you can, but do it occasionally and not as a routine. Kids do not need dessert every night, leave it for special occasions. They do not need sodas, sodas do not even quench your thirst, help them to get used to drinking water, lots of water every day. The same thing goes for junk food; leave it for the times you are out of the house, at the mall, or the movies anywhere but inside your house. Teach your kids to eat well and they will live well.

Go the extra mile today and your children will get used to good food and drink. They will grow stronger and feel better when they exercise and spend time outdoors. They will learn to manage their time better and will become better students and will communicate better with you and between themselves when they lose that horrible addiction to video games and television. Restraining their gaming and television watching time will help them to learn communication and interaction skills they do not need now because they communicate with machines, not people.

It is not easy and we know that the younger generations have fallen into a lethal trap. They have lost their ability to express feelings and to communicate thoughts. If this goes on for too long it is possible that they will not speak or think anymore. They themselves will become machines. Some of horrible episodes we see today on the news have started with a lonely kid who is locked within himself and his mind; a kid who hates himself because he is fat or different from his peers. This is the age of communication, it is true, but we should be communicating between us not with machines. We should use all these contraptions to improve human communication not loneliness.

Contributing factors leading to your child’s obesity

Obesity in children is on a rampage with numbers skyrocketing in the past few years. An obese childhood paves way to an obese adulthood which is a serious concern for parents these days. An obese child is most likely to suffer from physical as well as emotional difficulties in his life. Besides leading a sedentary life, they will also be bullied by their peers which may dent the child’s self-confidence.

Factors responsible for child obesity

1. Filthy Eating Habits: Nowadays, children prefer eating junk food instead of fresh fruits and vegetables. Burgers, pizzas and other oily food items have high sugar and fat content which may hamper with your child’s overall body development.
2. Lack Of Exercises: With the advent of television, computer games and more importantly social media, children are devoting more time to these rather than engaging in outdoor activities. While they prefer leading such lifestyle, the calories they consume do not burn out. If your child is inclined towards this, it may spell trouble for his adulthood.
3. Surroundings: If you pack your refrigerators and kitchen with fat-filled stuff like chocolates and chips along with soft drinks, there is a possibility your child will pick them up. But if you act smart and stock your kitchen with healthy foods, your child will most definitely pick up the same.
4. The Genes Factor: If your family carries genes of obesity, your child will also carry them. In a family of obese people, high calorie food and reduced amount of exercise dominates. This will support your child in doing the same.
5. Emotional Difficulties: It is common in adults to treat food as a stress buster but sometimes children also do the same. Children encountering anxiety issues are more susceptible to obesity. As a parent, you need to look out for him as he may try to cope with stress by eating more food.

All these risk factors may harm your child’s present and future leaving him vulnerable to many more diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.