A neighbor whose teenage son weighs a hefty 107 kilos recounted to me not too long ago, how just because she is a tiny little thing(she actually weigh 52 kilos),people have tendency to assume her husband must be "orobo" and that her son must have taken after his father. But such assumptions are quickly banished when the boy’s father turns out to be as "lepacious" as his mother.
According to the middle-age woman, this contrast in parent-child physique has become a regular point of interest as people keep asking how she(and her spouse)came about birthing such a "big" boy .The questions are endless. Why is he so obese? How can you be slim and he so fat? Doesn’t he have your genes? What does he eat? She is grateful of their concerns, but to her, it’s more frustrating than embarrassing. Eventually she is able to appreciate that her son's obesity is acquired, not inherited. The question of whose responsibility it is for this development, is another question altogether.
These days there is a lot in the news about children and the "obesity epidemic” There are general notions about obesity and overweight being unhealthy, but what exactly are the concerns? Being obese increases a child's risk for some serious childhood medical problems such as prediabetes, diabetes heart disease, hyperlipidemia(too much fat in the blood, which can clog the arteries), sleep apnea, bone conditions, gastro-intestinal diseases ,and psychological problems.
These obesity - associated health problems tend to continue into adulthood .In addition to the risks, over-weight children are at greater risk of becoming obese adults, with all the health problems associated with obesity lasting through the lifespan.
The good news is that as a parent, you do have influence over your child's lifestyle and weight. Here’s some general advice on what to do:
- If you are a woman in the childbearing years, you should maintain a healthy obesity in your future children. Entering into pregnancy with a healthy weight also helps prevent gestational diabetes. Mothers-to-be do not actually need to "eat for two.” Over-eating in pregnancy and gaining excessive weight can put both mother and child at risk for obesity. On the other hand, good nutrition is critical is pregnancy. Undernourished fetuses are also at increased risk of later obesity.
- Pay attention to your children. Show them you care. Children who are not tended to by adults have higher rates of obesity. Don’t use food as a comfort measure. Don’t closely monitor the amounts your child to eats or nag your child to eat at mealtime. This can interfere with the child's response to hunger and feeling full.
Importantly, watch your own weight .children under age three who overweight, but whose parents are not overweight, have a low risk for becoming overweight adults; If one parent is obese, it doubles a child's risk for adult obesity.
- Another point is that you don't need to focus on the weight. Instead, focus on the healthy living: good eating habits and physical activity. Also limit television-viewing time. There is a direct relationship between the amount of time spent watching TV and degree of overweight. Eating in front of the TV is associated with greater risk of obesity, so don't let your children do it .TV viewing can directly cause obesity through replacing physical activity, increased eating while watching .Television can also have an indirect effect; advertising can influence children to increase their calorie intake by eating and drinking more junk food /beverages. This also goes for eating in front of any screen, such as video games and the computer. Keep unhealthy foods out of the house or out of your children's control .Set firm rules about healthy snack choices. Don’t allow eating in bedrooms .Consider soft drinks an occasional treat rather than a regular beverage. Water should be the beverage of choice.
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