Addressing Childhood Obesity

Obesity is one of the largest epidemics in our world these days. Obesity affects children as well as adults. This article has some more information about exactly what childhood obesity is.

Considering adults, there are different ways to tell if there is an obesity problem. For instance, in adults we can look at a person and tell if their weight fits their height and body style. Then, we have the weighing scales. Standing on it at the doctor’s office is often emotionally painful, but it is used to determine if you are at the right weight for your height as well as your age. This information forms the Body Mass Index which relates to obesity.

For children, it is a little bit different. Simply looking at a child will not help you determine if they are overweight. There are modified BMI charts used specifically for children. Childhood obesity is considered a problem if a child has more body mass than is normal or healthy for their age and height. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) says, if a child has a BMI above the 95 percentile for their age, they are obese. But each age in childhood brings with it a different set of growth circumstances that also have to be taken into consideration.

Addressing Obesity

There is no harm in consulting your pediatrician if you think your child is becoming overweight. Your doctor will advise you if there is anything to worry about. Some children gain weight just before they experience a growth spurt. It can appear that your child goes from skinny to chunky and then chunky to skinny in a matter of seconds. That is why we have to be careful about diagnosing a child as obese without all the information available.

Although baby fat may appear cute for a period of time some parents use this as a way to deny what is really happening to their child. Parents and teachers need to be honest with ourselves when we see children gaining weight that is unexplained and out of control. Help and  research solutions are needed to solve this serious health problem. Many times it begins with the parents, but the school also has a responsibility in this regard.

Children are bombarded with influences from outside sources on a daily basis but most of their habits begin at home.

According to the CDC, obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. Obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1% during that same time period.

• Obese children are more likely to become obese adults.
• Children are much more likely to be obese when they have obese parents.
• Heredity accounts for about one quarter of all the obese children but shouldn’t be blamed.