At the moment, childhood obesity is one of the problems more serious public health. It is a phenomenon that is occurring all over the world and its incidence is gradually increasing.
Indeed, it is a pathology associated with countries such as the United States. However, it also affects smaller countries with lower incomes. Unfortunately, An estimated 42 million children under the age of 5 suffer from childhood obesity.
Obesity is a disease that is not limited to the aesthetic sense, but has serious repercussions on the health of those who suffer from it. For example, children who develop it are more prone to diseases such as diabetes or others of cardiovascular origin for life.
In the society we live in, it seems difficult for our children to maintain a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition. However, we must strive to eliminate this problem. Therefore, in this article we tell you everything you need to know about childhood obesity.
What is Childhood Obesity?
Childhood obesity is the most common nutrition-related disorder at this stage of life. It consists in the excessive accumulation of fat in the body, endangering the child’s health.
It is a disease in which numerous factors are involved, it does not depend only on nutrition. Indeed, Genetics and physical activity are also two determining factors.
However, there is no doubt that the diet we establish is one of the main culprits of this pathology. We currently abuse high-calorie foods, with high percentages of saturated fat.
In short, childhood obesity is a combination of a totally unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle, and genetics, among others. It is important to know that, as we have said, this disease is related to numerous problems health, such as diabetes.
How do we know if a child is obese?
The diagnosis of childhood obesity is not established by appearance but is calculated by a parameter called ‘body mass index’ or BMI. BMI relates weight to height and is calculated by dividing weight (in kilograms) by height (in meters) squared.
There are a series of tables and references that allow you to compare the BMI with the standard levels to know, in the specific case, whether it is a case of childhood obesity or not. However, in children it is more accurate to use percentile curves for comparison.
What are the risk factors for childhood obesity?
As we have already mentioned, obesity in childhood does not depend only on the child’s diet. Actually, many factors are involved For example:
- Genetics: numerous studies refer the overweight of the parents with that of the children, stating that, in the event that one of the parents is obese, the child has almost three times the risk of being so. However, it is difficult to distinguish whether it is due to shared lifestyle or genetics.
- Birth weight: Scientists link the fact that a child is born with more than 4 kg with obesity in childhood or adulthood.
- Curiously, breastfeed the baby during the first year of life appears to be associated with a lower risk of childhood obesity.
- Birth place, since a child who lives in a rural environment seems to maintain a more active lifestyle, while those who live in the city have a greater tendency to be sedentary.
This pathology is also related to other factors such as sleep or the economic level of the family. However, we must be clear that The key to addressing this problem is focus on the child’s lifestyle.
What can we do to prevent it?
Childhood obesity is a disease that can determine the rest of a child’s life. This is because, in addition to self-esteem and aesthetic problems, It will mean a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic problems.
Therefore, it is essential to take action and find a way to establish an adequate diet for them. If you don’t know how to do it, it is best to consult a doctor or nutritionist.
Moreover, Ideally, your child should be active.. Introducing sport into your daily routine should be one of the first steps. In fact, this will also help your child improve their social skills and have fun.
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