What if the child overweight
Health / / December 19, 2019
Chubby kids is definitely touching. Especially as angels Michelangelo or Raphael. But when it comes to real life, excess fatness can be a problem.
Layfhaker understand where the line between "big bones", and obesity, which can not only be a burden to the child peer relationships, but also grown-pin complexities of health.
How to recognize the weight of a child
It seems to be easy. there are standardsChild growth standards.Linking height and weight at a certain age and gender of children. If a child falls into the norm - all is well. If the weight exceeds the norm, it shows varying degrees of obesity.
to deal with the weight can be broadly as follows:
- Calculate body mass index (BMI) body weight of the child in kilograms divided by the square of height in centimeters.
- BMI is checked against the defined standards of the World Health Organization.
Check the weight and can be online. For example, using one of the available BMI calculators.
However, it is important to consider a number of nuances. an overabundance of weight (relative to the accepted norms of age) may be due to
Childhood obesity. not obese, but just large child's body size. There is such a factor as the age distribution of fat. It individually, and some 6 yrs can store bulk inherent in 2 yrs - this is normal.Rate, to which category the child and whether it is necessary to talk about the excess of weight, can only be a pediatrician. That's what will make the physician:
- Calculate body mass index.
- Compare the values with the table listing standardsAbout Child & Teen BMI. for each age and gender.
- Viewing the history of development and growth of the child.
- He will ask about family history and build you and your ancestors.
Just received this information and examining little patient, pediatrician issue a verdict: whether to worry about excess weight or physique of the child, even if he is far ahead of peers, by weight, does not inspire fears.
Why parents do not notice the extra weight in children
Unfortunately, childhood obesity - a widespread phenomenon. according to statistics,Obesity and overweight. WHO, in 2016 overweight in one way or another suffered 41 million children under the age of 5 years and over 340 million children and adolescents between 5 and 19 years. This is a significant figure. For example, in the United States is obesePrevalence of Childhood Obesity in the United States, 2011-2014. Every sixth child from 2 to 19 years.
It would seem, called the problem - half the battle done. But not in this case. The study showsParents' perception of their child's weight status and intention to intervene: a Western Australian cross-sectional population survey, 2009-12.Spent by Australian scientists, many parents simply refuse to accept that their children are overweight. Only 23% of mothers and fathers, whose children have been diagnosed with obesity, said he would try to help your child lose weight.
More than half of parents said they did not intend to interfere, and their excessively chubby baby and so good.
Sounds nice: parents love their children and take any. But, if you look into the matter more deeply, for this acceptance is found banal fear. The fact that society assigns responsibility for childhood obesity parents. And people are simply afraid to look in the eyes of incompetent parents. It is easier to pretend that obesity in the child does not exist, than to justify and to suffer from feelings of guilt.
Edition of The New York Times devoted a whole article to this phenomenonDo Parents Make Kids Fat?. Its author was the MD Perry class (Perri Klass) - expert, has been studying eating disorder behavior. He and his colleagues emphasize: not always overweight in children is caused by the incompetence of their parents. Often the case in the specific characteristics of the child, including his metabolism and eating habits. Mom and dad are not always able to change it.
I feel guilty for it - a destructive way. Where more correct to admit: "Yes, my baby are overweight. There is no blame. We just need to work together to address this problem. "
How dangerous a surplus weight
Extra weight - is not only an aesthetic disadvantage. They carry with them a number of possible complicationsChildhood obesity.. Here are just some of them.
Diabetes Type 2
This chronic disease is associated with a failure in the processing of sugar (glucose). Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle - one of the ways to make this unpleasant disease.
metabolic syndrome
This combination of physiological problems that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders. These include, in particular, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol creates plaque in the arteries, impairing blood flow significantly. It can cause heart attack and stroke.
Asthma
Children with overweight have an increased risk of developing asthma. The reason for this is not entirely clear, but the connection is established unambiguouslyObesity, Nutrition, and Asthma in Children..
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
So is the accumulation of fat in the liver, which is often asymptomatic. Subsequently, it can lead to cirrhosis.
emotional problems
Physical disabilities is not limited. researchWeight Status as a Predictor of Being Bullied in Third Through Sixth Grades. clearly show that children who are overweight, are more likely to undergo bullied. In addition, they are pursued by a feeling of loneliness, anxiety, depression, which badly affects the quality of life.
The causes of obesity in children
Scientists honestly admit that modern science does not fully understandDo Parents Make Kids Fat?As to what exactly caused by obesity. When excess weight affects both parents and children, the situation is more or less clear. Here it is possible to put forward a number of reasoned assumptions. For example, that affect weight obschesemeyny unhealthy eating habits: love for fast food and a passion to order a pizza for dinner. Or that the family is too little attention paid to physical activity. Or the reason lies in some hereditary factors.
But there is another way: at the smart, engaged in sports, preferring healthy foods mom and dad growing excessively chubby child. Or even more mysterious: and dad, and my mother, and even younger children are slender, and eldest child has extra weight.
Recognizing the difficulties in establishing clear reasons that cause obesity, doctors still have identified a number of factorsChildhood obesity., Each of which can lead to weight oversupply. Most often they work together.
Imbalanced high-calorie diet
In simple words - the abuse of fast food and prepared foods from supermarkets. At risk - candy, desserts, sweet drinks, including fruit juices.
Lack of locomotor activity
Here, too, everything is predictable: the more you sit, the less calories you spend. Unspent is deposited in the form of extra kilos.
psychological factors
Stress boredom and increase the risk of developing obesity as forced child "jam" negative feelings or "sweeten" too gray life-calorie products.
Socio-economic factors
If a person does not have enough money, it is likely to deem unnecessary spending at the gym or purchase a rather expensive fruits and vegetables, without considering the consequences for their children.
What if the child overweight
Knowing the causes, you can make a simple plan of action, which is likely to be effective in the fight against excess weight. Here he is:
- Try not to give your child sugary drinks (soft drinks, fruit juices). If possible, replace them with water, fruit drinks or stewed with a low sugar content.
- Turn to the family diet as many fruits and vegetables.
- Get into the practice of family breakfasts, lunches and dinners, limiting spontaneous snacking. At the table child eats less harmful than alone somewhere on the computer.
- Adjust the size of servings for each family member.
- During meal time turn off the TV and ask the children to postpone the smartphones and tablets. Unnecessary sounds make us unconsciously to overeat.
- Make sure that your children are involved in sports or other types of physical activity. Exercise - a fine way to reduce stressAnd at the same time improve self-esteem.
If a child has a weight problem, at least once a year to consult with your pediatrician. This will allow to monitor the situation in the dynamics and to prevent deterioration.