Childhood obesity gained a lot of attention in the recent years due to the dramatic rise in type 2 diabetes. In the last decade, type 2 diabetes in children rose about twenty percent. Childhood obesity is one of those conditions that is so heartbreaking because it is preventable. There are many reasons why childhood obesity is prevalent and more ways it can be prevented.
1. Most parents make poor food choices themselves
This is probably obvious because the rate of obesity for adults is so high. These adults just pass their bad eating habit to their kids. The problem here is typically the lack of education of the parents on what is considered healthy food and what is not. Places like the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association are taking steps to teach healthy eating practices to parents so they can pass it on to their kids.
2. Some parents just do not care what their kids eat
This is another big problem in the area of childhood obesity. Often times, there are problems with the family dynamic. Research studies have shown that some parents are just out of touch with their kids. When this happens, it is important for the kid or maybe the family doctor to speak to the parents about how problematic neglecting the kids diet is.
3. A lot of schools have cut physical education
In recent years, more and more cuts have been made to physical education programs at schools across the country. The more these programs get cut, the more sedentary many kids become. Oftentimes, physical education class is the only way gets are able to get exercise. Especially for those kids who live in rough neighborhoods, this will often be their only way. Childhood obesity could be prevented if more and more people got active with their school boards and protested these cuts. A lot of people do not realize hoe detrimental this is until it is too late.
4. Parents do not check to make sure their kids are not sneaking food
This happens more than you probably think. Even the most careful parents sometimes overlook this. A lot of kids that are obese will sneak food in their rooms when their parents are not looking. Over time, the kids gain more and more weight and often times the parents are left confused. If parents check on their kids at night, this can be prevented.
5. Check for emotional problems the kid may be having
A lot of times childhood obesity can be an expression of something deeper. Maybe the child is being teased at school. This could cause the child to eat more. Maybe, the child is unhappy with their school performance. Maybe, they are upset because of a divorce. There are many reasons to look out for. This is why it is important for parents to regularly talk to their kids about their feelings and problems so it will not be expressed through obesity or any other ailment or problem.
http://www.cdc.gov/NCCDPHP/DNPA/healthyweight/children/
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