Abstract
Childhood obesity is one of the critical issues in society today. For the last three decades, prevalence of childhood obesity has tremendously increased. It is worth nothing that the globally approximately 170 million children who are within the age of 18 years are overweight. The prevention of childhood obesity begins with a clear understanding of the various causes of childhood obesity. Scholars assert that there is a link between childhood obesity and genetics. Other major causes that should be understood in order to focus on preventive measures include diet, lack of physical exercise, socioeconomic factors, medical conditions, psychological factors, genetics, environment as well as sleep. One of the ways of preventing childhood obesity is through heath education programs. The society, today, consumes a lot of fast foods and takes ways. These are very risk for the health of children. In order to prevent childhood obesity, parents should encourage cooking meals at home. Cooking meals at home is one of the powerful strategies towards healthy eating and weight loss. Focusing on health foods and proper nutrition is a preventive measure towards childhood obesity. From weaning, it is essential to focus on developing a solid foundation concerning child nutrition and diet. Physical exercise, strength training and cardiovascular training are other ways of preventing childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity is one of the critical issues in society today. For the last three decades, prevalence of childhood obesity has tremendously increased. It is worth nothing that the globally approximately 170 million children who are within the age of 18 years are overweight. Studies show that children in the upper and middle class families are at the higher risk of being overweight. The prevalence of overweight children in developing countries is low. However, the issue of overweight children is a concern in almost all countries in the world. Recently, the prevalence of overweight children seems to be rising at an alarming rate. The effects of overweight among children are very serious. These are based on the fact that it raises many serious health problems. In the United States, youngest children are at risk of being obese. In fact, 10 percent of toddlers and infants carry weight that exceeds their length; these is based on body mass index (Robert Wood Johnson, 2012). Baby fat is very dangerous for the health of the children and they should not grow in to, but rather outgrow it. Evidently, overweight have serious consequences on the child, which include increased risk of chronic diseases, self-esteem, as well as social problems. Obese children are at risk of various conditions, which include diabetes, early heart disease, high cholesterol, bone problems, fungal infection, heat rash, as well as high blood pressure. In the general perspective, childhood obesity is very dangerous but the good thing is that it can be prevented.
The prevention of childhood obesity begins with a clear understanding of the various causes of childhood obesity. Scholars assert that there is a link between childhood obesity and genetics. These means that increase of body weight among children could be driven by genetics and body hormones. In most cases, childhood obesity is caused by under exercising and overeating. Other major causes that should be understood in order to focus on preventive measures include diet, lack of physical exercise, socioeconomic factors, medical conditions, psychological factors, genetics, environment as well as sleep (Lumeng, 2005). Therefore, the prevention of childhood obesity is based on the causal factors. Parents and caregivers undertake tremendous role in preventing childhood obesity. On the same note, the increase of childhood obesity is alarming; hence, prevention of childhood obesity is the main agenda of government and private agencies in the world.
One of the ways of preventing childhood obesity is through heath education programs. The programs ensure that people in society understand on the causes and dangers of childhood obesity. It is evident that most of the parents encourage causal factors leading o children overweight. Lack of information and ignorance drive the mentality of people to view overweight as normal phenomena (Davies, Fitzgerald & Mousouli, 2008). Therefore, health education training and programs will leave the community informed about the problem. Education on childhood obesity provides a clear definition of what is to be prevented. Prevention of childhood obesity demands a clear outset on various stakeholders. Prevention specialists and health educators need to understand that their main role is to prevent obesity, but not to treat and diagnose childhood obesity.
The prevention of childhood obesity begins in infancy. During infancy, the mother should breastfeed the child. Studies show that breastfeeding reduces the risk of overweight later in life. Breastfeeding is essential in preventing childhood obesity because it regulates body fat and ensures that the child body system always takes only what the body requires. In addition, use of bottle-feed need perfect discipline (Lindsay, Sussner, Kim & Gortmaker, 2006). The child should be feed once and the bottle should not be placed in the Child’s mouth any time they cry. These will always train a child on various eating habits. The main focus in infancy is to help the baby grow healthy regardless of their weight.
Setting an example is also another major prevention mechanism. In these cases, caregivers and parent need to make right choices by focusing on healthy lifestyles. In most cases, parents and caregivers ask children to avoid fatty foods yet they are consuming it themselves. These does not make any sense to the child (Institute of Medicine (U.S.)., Parker, Burns & Sanchez, 2009). Practicing what you preach should be the basis o preventing childhood obesity. These can easily be achieved by staying active, eating healthy and asking the child to do the same. In addition, the parents need to educate the children on the important of proper diet and exercise. The bottom line is that caregivers and parents should be the role models.
Physical exercise, strength training and cardiovascular training are other ways of preventing childhood obesity. It is worth noting that physical exercise, strength training and aerobic training utilize a lot of calories in the body. Strength training ensures that children gain some strength ad muscles, thereby improving the entire body composition and enhancing performance of body system. Muscles need a lot of calories than fats; therefore more calories will be required by body muscles leading to the reduction of fats (Davies, Fitzgerald & Mousouli, 2008). Aerobic training is also essential for children; These is because it burns a lot of calories and body fat leading to improved mental and physical health of the child. The training and exercise schedule for children should not be equal to that of adults. These is because children can be bored so easily and lose interest in it. These implies that children training and exercise should be fun, safe, and align with the ability and interest of the child. Qualified personnel should monitor child training since they understand the safety precautions and procedures.
Focusing on health foods and proper nutrition is a preventive measure towards childhood obesity. From weaning, it is essential to focus on developing a solid foundation concerning child nutrition and diet. In these cases, it is important to encourage children to consume vegetables and fruit served dishes more than three times per day. The diet should also contain whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and all high-calorie food should be avoided. On the same note, soda and juice intake should be discouraged from daily diet. Sodas and juice have a lot of calories; hence, they make children full at any given time. When a child is always full there is no room of consuming healthy and balanced diet. A proper substitute should be fruits, which contain cancer-fighting antioxidants and satiating fiber (Lumeng, 2005). Typically, the parent will always do shopping for home consumption. The parents need to make good choices of food that they bring into the house. Home environment is the place to develop nutritional discipline and proper diet plan.
In most cases, parents entertain food-related power struggles with their children. These should be avoided in absolute terms is childhood obesity is to be prevented. The use of sugary foods for punishments or rewards should be avoided (Monaco, 2012). There are many things that a parent can use as a reward. These imply that food, especially sugary food should not be used for punishments or rewards. The health of the child is more important than anything else in the family.
In the modern day, children spend most of their time in schools. These means that the educational institutions need to focus on a diet and schedule of children. Recreational events, school and social activities do not emphasize on health diet; they are always into snacks. These imply that schools should implement proper planning, especially on nutrition and physical exercise (Lumeng, 2005). The schools should provide easy-to-access healthy food to children. Some of the appropriate diets could be vegetables, seeds, nuts, and fruits. These are a healthy diet that can take the place of snacks. The supply of food needs to emphasize on mind and body building nutrients. On the same note, children should have time to exercise within the school. In fact, school environment is the best for the child to train and carry out physical exercise.
Children have their favorite dishes. As parents and schools, it is important to always provide children with healthier favorite dishes. It is worth noting that a favorite meal can be made healthier with very minimal changes (Robert Wood Johnson, 2012). On the same note, watch the portion size of favorite and other foods that the child consumes. The child should not be allowed to consume too much amount of food than the amount required by the body.
The society, today, consumes a lot of fast foods and takes ways. These are very risk for the health of children. In order to prevent childhood obesity, parents should encourage cooking meals at home. Cooking meals at home is one of the powerful strategies towards healthy eating and weight loss. It allows the parents to choose the ingredients and diet that is cooked. On the same note, parents can control and manage a portion of food consumed by the child (Lindsay, Sussner, Kim & Gortmaker, 2006). Children always like eating food at home because they feel they have contributed towards it. In fact, incorporate the children in the choice of nutrients and use cooking magazines for them to choose the best meals. Through such home practices, the children will learn to cook and eat healthy nutrition.
Technological advancement is also a threat to the health of children. The presence of computer games, television, and play stations are risk factors that will lead to obesity. Parents should reduce sedentary time spent by children. These include watching television, playa online games and playing game in play stations (Monaco, 2012). The parents and caregivers need to encourage their children towards fun and physical activities. In fact, parents should schedule the activities within the family. Kids should always be encouraged to be kids. These means that kids should be encouraged to leave their electronic devices and carry out outdoor activities. The physical activities that are interesting include riding bike, walking, playing recreational sports, and getting involved with friends in the playground.
In conclusion, child obesity is a major threat in society today. All responsible stakeholders must work together in preventing these problems. The prevention of childhood obesity begins from understanding the major causes of obesity. Some of the crucial prevention measures include consumption of healthy diet, physical exercise, consumption of low-fatty foods, proper nutrition, role model, aerobic training, as well as encouraging children to be children. It is through these prevention measures that childhood obesity will be eliminated in society.
References
David & Lucile Packard Foundation. (2006). Childhood obesity. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
Davies, H. D., Fitzgerald, H. E., & Mousouli, V. (2008). Obesity in childhood and adolescence. Westport, Conn: Praeg
Lindsay, A. C., Sussner, K. M., Kim, J., & Gortmaker, S. (2006). The Role of Parents in Preventing Childhood Obesity. Future Of Children, 16(1), 169-186.
Lumeng, J. (2005). What Can We Do to Prevent Childhood Obesity?. Zero To Three, 25(3), 13- 19
Monaco, J. E. (2012). How to Prevent and Combat Childhood Obesity. Pediatrics For Parents, 28(3/4), 6-7.
Robert Wood Johnson, F. (2012). Keeping Kids Moving: How Equitable Transportation Policy Can Prevent Childhood Obesity--What It Is. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
