Did you know September is National Childhood Obesity
Awareness Month? According to CDC, 19% children in the USA suffer from obesity
which is worrisome. Childhood obesity has negative repercussions on the overall
well-being and development of children. The condition is particularly troubling
as those extra pounds often lead to the onset of serious health issues like Type
2 diabetes, high cholesterol and depression. Make lifestyle changes in your
family to encourage your child to do the same. Eating right and exercising
regularly go a long way in reducing childhood obesity. Ensure that your child
gets stress EKG or the exercise
stress test done, from time-to-time, to keep track of his or her heart health.
When to worry?
Not every child who is plumper than most kids of his or her
age is obese. Some children may have body frames that are larger than average. It
is also important to know that at different stages of development, children
carry different percentages of body fat. So, just by looking at your child, you
can’t reallydecipher if you need to be concerned in the first place.
Calculate his or her BMI or body mass index to get a clearer
picture. BMI is the measurement of weight in comparison to height and is used
to determine if a person is overweight.Your child’s doctor will probably use
growth charts and other tests like the stress
EKG to figure out if his/her weight falls under an unhealthy range.
Major causes for childhood obesity
With a sedentary lifestyle most families are used to,
children get little physical activities. Their calorie intake often succeeds
the desired level. They prefer a McDonalds burger over a bowl of veggies, video
games over an hour of playing in the backyard. All this sums up in an obese
child.Sometimes, hormonal or genetic factors may also be responsible for
excessive weight gain among children.
Final words
Since risk factors are immense, it is of utmost importance
that parents pay diligent attention to the weight of their children. Treating
childhood obesity will ensure your child remains healthy now as well as the
future.
Choosing your child’s doctor is also a crucial task. Always prefer
a clinic that has efficient stress EKG
machine,like the Nasiff CardioStress, among other things.
