Why children are over weight.
Article by Diet Bites
We Are What We Eat
No matter what age the human body might be, its current state is based upon the amount of energy that goes into the body combined with the expenditure of energy.
All age groups contain obese individuals - from infants to the oldest person on earth.
While the younger among us generally have a higher metabolic rate, the older among us tend to have the slowest.
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When the body is new, it simply functions more efficiently, including the area of caloric burn. As it ages, cell damage cannot be repaired as proficiently as it was in our younger days; the body begins to experience issues associated with ageing and breaks down slowly over time.
This doesn't mean that the ageing individual cannot enjoy a full, happy life. It does mean that their body is incapable of mirroring its younger self in many areas involving health matters.
Stages of Childhood Obesity & Weight Gain Issues
While adulthood has multiple stages, so does childhood. These stages are important when they involve the weight of the child. And if the little one is in need of losing, they should do such under the close supervision of a pediatrician. Let's take a deeper look at the stages of childhood and how they related to weight.
Infancy to Two Years in Age
Amid this stage the body is changing and growing quite rapidly. Unless the infant or toddler is experiencing health issues related to their larger size, no action other than healthy eating is generally prescribed. Examples of health issues caused by the excess fat includes delayed motor development, breathing or respiratory complications, heart disturbances, the inability to move about freely without over-exertion.
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Because the body is rapidly changing, growth spurts generally rectify excess fat issues and the infant or toddler trims down to their recommended size.
Children Age 2 to 7
The body is still growing but at a reduced amount than it did in earlier years. When overweight issues create health complications, it must be lost at a very slow rate where little ones are involved - generally no more than one pound per month. Increased activity and a healthy meal plan and snacks are also part of the recommendations.
Age 7 & Older
At this age, if obesity the rate of fat loss generally recommended as a safe rate is one to two pounds per week in situations where the size of the child is creating significant or potential health issues.
Health Complications Associated With Childhood Obesity
Signals that bear watching include: abnormal blood pressure readings, elevated lipid profile, sleeping issues including sleep apnea, bouts of edema (swelling), orthopedic issues and a condition called pseudotumor cerebri (cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure).
Contributors to Childhood Obesity
Many in the health world blame this rapidly increasing epidemic on video games and television. Basically put - a lack of activity.
Although a lack of activity certainly encourages unhealthy pounds to pack on, blaming this important epidemic on the home-life of kids is preposterous in our opinion. What about all those 'down' hours spent at school? Kids are chained to desks all day, allowed little activity or movement. Why not place the blame there?
Although inactivity is a chief contributor of weight gain, the biggest contributor is what goes into the body. For years, kids are challenged at school, at home and even by their peers when it comes to food and beverage selections. Even advertisements - whether seen on billboards, computers, cereal boxes or television get kids excited about certain unhealthy foods.
So just why are children overweight? In a capsule, it's an 'educated' guess.
In Summary
You have the ability to take positive action where your children are concerned, particularly in the selections of food and drink that they consume as well as in their activity levels. Make sure they explore a healthy meal plate, as well as natural snacks.
Get them more involved in active things; and speak with the other parents whose kids attend school. Together - as a group, speak with the school officials and voice your concerns about the inactivity involved in sitting for hours on end in a desk and the need to add more time throughout the school hours to allow for such.
Studies have proven that when we take a break from our office desk, when we return we are much more productive. The same applies to the school desk.
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