I have an obese daughter

Agnes U Children have fewer weight-related health and medical problems than adults. However, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults, placing them at risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes later in life. They are also more prone to develop stress, sadness, and low self-esteem. What […]

Agnes U

Children have fewer weight-related health and medical problems than adults. However, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults, placing them at risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes later in life. They are also more prone to develop stress, sadness, and low self-esteem.

What causes obesity in children?
Children become overweight and obese for various reasons. The most common causes are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. Only in rare cases is being overweight caused by a medical condition such as a hormonal problem.
Although weight problem runs in families, not all children with a family history of obesity will be overweight. Children whose parents or brothers or sisters are overweight may be at an increased risk of becoming overweight themselves.
A child’s total diet and activity level play an important role in determining a child’s weight. Today, many children spend a lot time being inactive. For example, the average child spends approximately four hours each day watching television. As computers and video games become increasingly popular, the number of hours of inactivity may increase.

What diseases are obese children at risk of?
Obese children are at risk of a number of conditions, including:
1. High cholesterol
2. High blood pressure
3. Early heart disease
4. Diabetes
5. Bone problems
6. Skin conditions such as heat rash, fungal infections and acne.

How will you know if your child is overweight?
The best person to determine whether or not your child is overweight is your child’s doctor. In determining whether or not your child is overweight, the doctor will measure your child’s weight and height and compute his or her ‘‘BMI,’’ or body mass index, to compare this value to standard values. The doctor will also consider your child’s age and growth patterns. Assessing obesity in children can be difficult, because children can grow in unpredictable spurts.

How to help
If you have an overweight child, it is very important that you allow him or her to know that you are supportive. Children’s feelings about themselves are often based on their parents’ feelings about them, and if you accept your children at any weight, they will be more likely to feel good about themselves. It is also important to talk to your children about their weight, allowing them to share their concerns with you. It is not recommended that parents set children apart because of their weight. Instead, parents should focus on gradually changing their family’s physical activity and eating habits. By involving the entire family, everyone is taught healthful habits and the overweight child does not feel singled out.

How to involve family members
There are many ways to involve the entire family in healthy habits, but increasing the family’s physical activity is especially important.

Some ways to accomplish this include
1. Lead by example. If your children see that you are physically active and having fun, they are more likely to be active and stay active for the rest of their lives.
2. Plan family activities that provide everyone with exercise, like walking or jogging.
3. Be sensitive to your child’s needs. Overweight children may feel uncomfortable about participating in certain activities. It is important to help your child find physical activities that they enjoy and aren’t embarrassing or too difficult.