Incidence of Childhood Obesity

Obesity affects all age groups, color and gender including children. The incidence of childhood obesity is rising. In the US alone, the population of obese kids has risen to 100 percent in the last twenty to thirty years. In fact one child out of five is considered overweight.

Today, more children are now diagnosed with type 2 diabetes that supposedly occurs only among adults. Obese children are more likely to become obese when they grow up. Not only that, obese children also will likely develop cardiovascular diseases and will suffer from sleep apnea, a condition wherein children will have an many disrupted sleep while having difficulty breathing.

Genetics is just one of the causes of obesity. But most of the common reasons of obesity especially among children are, consuming too much food rich in animal-based saturated fats, foods that are rich in sugar, and less physical activities. Children nowadays are seldom seen in community playgrounds enjoying children games with their peers. More often than not, they are glued to the boob tube watching cartoon shows, or to their computer monitors playing online games.

Mothers encouraged their kids to eat more than what they can consume. They want their kids to gain more weight than what is ideal for their age. They want their children to look chubby, because mothers have a preconceived notion that being plump “looks healthy” and cute. Little did they know that their children might have already reached obesity stage. They forgot to consider the adverse effects of obesity especially among children. This reason might be a contributing factor to the incidence of childhood obesity.

Incidence of childhood obesity can lead to depression among young kids. At an early age, children will have difficulty in relating with other kids their age. They become aloof and timid. The tendency to develop a poor self-image is high. They can no longer perform task in schools or at home. The more they grow in size the harder it will be for them to cope the psychosocial effects of obesity.

Parents of those obese children can help them manage their weight at an early age. At an early age parents, can encourage their kids to eat healthy foods by serving them meals that are less in saturated fats. They can minimize the television viewing of their kids by having enough time reading with books. Perhaps they can spend time doing recreational activities at home or at the park. Most of all, parent should be role models to their children to help create in the young minds a mental model of a good health.

Incidence of childhood obesity can be minimized if parents take the appropriate action to put a stop to their kids’ weight problem.