The national studies, reveal that, in most middle and high schools across the nation, contracts with soft drink bottling companies give students easy access to sugary beverages.
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Childhood obesity can lead to pediatric hypertension, which is associated with diabetes and coronary heart disease. There are many causes of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can result from nutrition deficiency, psychological factors, familial factors and physiological factors.
Family factors: The risk of children becoming obese is more when their parents are obese. This is due to genetic factors or the eating patterns of their parents. Even, some of the parents of obese children never exercise regularly.
Hereditary: In some children, heredity has shown to influence obesity. Children born to obese mothers have been found to be less active and gain more weight when compared to normal weight mothers.
Low-energy expenditure: Children spend most of the time watching television without physical activities. Children become obese as they frequently watch television and spend little energy or no energy. While watching television, they also consume high fat snacks.
Childhood obesity due to pressures:
Many schools have vending machines which provide desserts, fried foods, candy bars, cool drinks and chocolates. If one child purchases these things, the other children due to pressure will purchase and show to them.
Some children force to purchase these unhealthy snacks and children feel if they do not purchase, others might think they don’t have money.
Some children don’t find time to eat at home or parents might don’t have time to make breakfast. These children are habituated with quick serving restaurants and are targeted by many fast food chains, who promote super-size portions and offer all you can eat.
Psychological factors can also lead to childhood obesity. These factors influence eating habits and children eat in response to negative emotions such as anger, boredom or sadness. Depression and other neurological problems can also lead to over eating.
Suggestions for parents:
Parents should play an important role in treating obese child. Parents should watch the diet of the children. You should monitor your child and find whether there are any worries, sadness or depression is present.
Discuss with your child about the negative consequences of obesity so that they will not come under pressure to consume unhealthy snacks.
Provide plenty of fruits and vegetables to your child at the breakfast and in the lunch also. Make your child to exercise daily to prevent childhood obesity.
