Knowledge based section from nagar-setu.com

Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. As methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI. Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects it is being recognized as a serious public health concern. The term overweight rather than obese is often used in children as it is less stigmatizing.

As early as 1998, the WHO designated obesity as global epidemic-viewed as a consequence of environment and social factors. Health campaigners stress the importance of tackling obesity problems during childhood, when chances of influencing food pattern and behaviour is quite high.

Babies are known to double their birthweight during the first six months and precisely this is the period for consideration of weight regulation and management. Early weight gain be due to genetic predisposition or also due to overzealous parents stuffing their babies with too much food. Today it is well established fact children's diets contain more fat, sugar and salt than recommended and the level of obesity among children is on the rise.

Obesity Prevalence:-

10% of children world wide are either overweight or obese.
Prevalence of obesity globally in USA-30%, UK-20%, Brazil-14%, India Chennai and Delhi-6.2% and 7.4%, prevalence of obesity boys>girls.
5% in 1963-1970, 17% in 2003-04 among 12-19 year olds.
4% to 19% among 6-11 year old, 5% to 14% among 2-5 years old, 12% of infants 6-23 months are overweight.

Risk Factors:-

Dietary-

Eating fast food.
Soft drinks.
Increased sugar sweetened beverages intake.
More frequent snacks.
More ready to eat foods.

Secondary life style - Physically inactivity

Research shows children were 21.5% more likely to overweight when watching 4+ hrs of TV/day
4.5% more likely to be overweight when using computer one or more hrs per day
Children or poor class having more incidence of obesity

Genetic factor:-

Polymorphisms in various genes controlling appetite and metabolism predispose to obesity
If one parent is obese - 25 to 50% chance
If both parent obese - 75% chance
Twin studies definite risk
Prader-willi syndrome
Cong. Leptin deficiency

Early signs of obesity:-

High birthweight
Having obese parents
Small for gestational age
Quick grown from age 1-2
Watching more than 8 hrs of TV/week
Getting less than 10.5 hrs of sleep at night

Complication:-

Type-2 diabetes mellitus
Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, Metabolic syndrome, Asthma, Hyperandrogenism, Cardiomyopathy
Obstructive sleep apnea, Gall Bladder disease, Coronary hearth disease
Anxiety, Depression, Acanthosis nigricans, Sleeped capital femoral epiphysis, Non alcoholic fatty liver desease, Hypo ventilation syndrome
Osteoarthritis, Tibia vara, Early puberty

Eleven steps to prevent obesity in the child.

Offer fresh fruits for dessert.
Take your children to the park.
Keep your home "junk food free"
Invest in AND USE a crock pot.
Serve your children protein for breakfast.
Involve your child in food purchasing and allowing them to help select healthy foods.
Provide your children with healthy food choices. Provide snacks that are low in fat, sodium and refined sugar and are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Fruits, vegetable, fat-free milk/cheese,fish,snack:- pretzels, granola bars, raisins.
Support or cultivate and interest in sports or dance or any physical activity for your children.
If your children want seconds, agree that they may in 5 minutes. Then divert their attention.
Turn off the television while eating anything and eat dinner all together.

And the BEST way to ensure health for your children:

Get healthy and take care of yourself. You can care for those you love to the extent that you care for yourself.