Childhood obesity, a reality that every day up to more families.
Because of the lifestyle of many parents (lack of time, work stress among others) indirectly are taking their children to obesity. Some parents due to the lack of time buy processed food, usually meats, fats, sweets, junk food and not to prepare a balanced meal carrying a good nutrition and apart do not establish schedules for meals triggering bad habits food.
Childhood obesity is an excessive accumulation of body fat. This is due to a combination of environmental factors (improper diet and sedentary lifestyle), genetic and psychological.
Obese children are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or develop morbid obesity, problems of self-esteem and depression, orthopedic disorders, sleep disorders.
Here are some tips that parents should take into account if you want to prevent childhood obesity in their children:
• When you purchase keep in mind that you decide what it is going to eat at home. It includes lots of fruits and vegetables in your shopping, and less fats and sugary products. Children usually take fruit or yogurt for dessert instead of sweets.
• Not fill the House of sweets, cakes, soft drinks, potato chips and similar, and everything that will provide few nutrients and high in calories and provide snack between hours.
• It is not suitable to completely prohibit foods such as sweets, because to the extent they are not harmful and not being able to eat them can never generate anxiety in children and rejection by other foods.
• Important is that the breakfast is abundant and complete. And you have to distribute meals throughout the day (four or five shots).
• Snack choose fruit, dairy or (preferably tuna, sardines, cheese) sandwiches, rather than industrial sweets.
• You should limit consumption of sugary drinks, especially during meals, because in addition to bloat, they quench the child temporarily and this makes eating healthy foods.
• Try a meal at family, wherever possible because so you can monitor what your child eats.
• Never use food as a reward or punishment .
• Lifestyle changes must be gradual and long-term, without pretending that significant weight losses occur in a short time.
• When eating away from home, we had to choose restaurants where they serve salads, stews and homemade food, rather than fast food.
• It is suitable to do exercise every day, even just take a long walk. If parents have a healthy lifestyle, child also.
• From small, get him to play outdoors, and reduces the hours of television, video games, and other sedentary activities.
• Practice of any sport, in group or individual.
Sidenote: I've heard an urban legend(?) that some companies stopped making toys (or providing their brands) for Happy Meal Menus in McDonald's due to the realization it contributes to childhood obesity.
Do you think it's a valid step?
Of course it is a valid step. Many kids go to Mc Donalds attracted by the happy box juguest, but many parents do not want to understand that that type of food is not healthy. That marketing strategy that some fast food franchises use as reward toys for eating there contribute significantly to childhood obesity. Thanks for reading my post. Many blessings to you.
Yes, well, "valid step" was kinda bad wording, sorry for that, I was rather wondering if it is indeed such a huge factor in childhood obesity.