Childhood Obesity
Children today look different than they did a couple decades ago. It’s not just the fashions and techno-gadgets they’re sporting though. They weigh more… lots more. Among today’s youth, 29 to 35% are overweight and about half of them obese; twice the amount as in 1981.
The health risks associated with overweight and obesity have been well documented. Type 2 diabetes, commonly referred to as “Adult Onset,” is now showing up in 8-year-olds. Young children also display high blood pressure and high cholesterol counts—both high-risk factors for heart disease; and not even toddlers are immune.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Set a good example when it comes to healthy activities and food choices. Data from Statistics Canada stresses the importance of a supportive environment. They report that a child is 3 to 6 times as likely to be overweight or obese if a parent or caregiver is obese.
- Exercise definitely helps in the fight against weight problems. According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, walking as little as one additional kilometre a day can lower the tendency toward obesity by 5 per cent.
- Introduce a variety of healthy choices into a child’s diet. Studies show that children learn to like new foods with repeated exposure. This can take as long as 10, 12, or more tries, but the added health benefits are worth the effort.
- Limit high-calorie snacks. Some “junk foods” can actually deplete the body of vitamins and minerals in order to be assimilated. Fresh B.C. Brand fruit is ready to eat and makes a quick, healthy choice for a sweet snack containing fibre, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.
- Keep tabs on BMI; a calculation based on a relationship between height and weight. The possibility of health problems generally increases as a person’s body mass index (BMI) increases. For a quick check of BMI, click here.
