Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic in developing countries. Children in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia are getting fatter and fatter each generation. Why is this happening? It’s simple. The culture in these countries are promoting a sedentary life style that discourages the young from exercising.

The cultures in these western, developed countries places more emphasis on sitting in front of the computer and watching television more than exercising. Children are coming home from school and spending their spare time playing video games or watching television shows when they should be out playing sports. Their parents don’t mind because they are being kept busy. But they should mind. Childhood obesity can lead to a string of illnesses both at present and in the child’s adult life.

Childhood obesity dramatically increases the chances of a child getting diabetes. This is not a risk worth taking. Diabetes, although a manageable condition, is serious none the less. Obesity in the early stages of life also propagate to adulthood. Meaning chances are high that an obese child will become an obese adult. This can open the door to cardiovascular diseases which will ultimately lead to a heart attack. To put it bluntly, childhood obesity can take decades off the life span of the individual.

Nearly 15% of all children in the USA are officially Obese. That is also true for teenagers and that percentage is getting higher each year. The last three decades has seen a huge increase in these figures. What makes it all the more frightening, is that it is not getting better.

Over 25 Million children in the USA are overweight or in danger of being so. Childhood obesity is rising and it is now the biggest pediatric problem in the USA with up to 30% of adolescent children suffering from it.

So who is to blame for this crisis? Well, to be honest, the parents are most at fault but alongside that we need support centers and programs put in place to help. Children who have obese parents are 75% more likely to become obese themselves, which means we need to help the parents now to prevent this from getting out of hand. Helping people eat more healthily and control their weight is important in helping to reduce the childhood obesity problem.

It is not just in the USA of course. This is becoming a worldwide problem with Australia having one of the highest childhood obesity problems. It is a national issue and not just restricted to rural and suburban areas.

Schools must also take action as nearly half of the children in school eat school meals. They must be given healthy great tasting food instead of what fits the budget for financial reasons. Too many schools are driven by financial costs instead of realizing that if they fed their children healthy food, it would in fact save them money in the long run.

It is important to understand the cost to the American tax payer is estimated to be between $150 to $200 Billion dollars a year with time lost at work, hospital costs, medications etc. The fatter people get the more it costs the country in lost production and ultimately the lifestyle of the people and the economy itself.

Chronic diseases are associated with obesity like high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes etc. The cost of treating these disease puts more and more pressure on the health system and the overall cost to the nation is huge!

Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic and soon it will be out of control completely. We need to not just educate these people but the whole nation as a whole. Action needs to be taken now before it really is too late.

By Gary J Kidd
Cheia Vida Slim

Childhood obesity prevention is our responsibility we need to accept the responsibility of giving our child a healthy diet.

Being obese can affect a child’s health as well as their social well being.

Learn these 7 tips and place you child on the right road and prevent childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity prevention tip 1. Start early

We need to start early as possible by introducing our children to a healthy diet as soon as they start eating solid foods. Toddlers should be allowed to sample a wide variety of different flavors and tastes. Starting early with a varied healthy diet is a good basis on which to build good eating habits.

Childhood obesity prevention tip 2. Set a good example

Children learn much more by what they see us do than by what we tell them to do. Have a healthy varied diet yourself and let your children see you eating this. Children often want to sample what their parents eat so what will they sample from the kind of diet you have?

Childhood obesity prevention tip 3. Know what our children eat

It can be so easy as your child gets older to just let them take and eat whatever they like or can find in the house. It is better to give your child healthy snacks than to provide them with money to buy their own on a very regular basis. Children’s healthy eating habits start early.

Childhood obesity prevention tip 4. Cook your own food wherever possible

If you cook your own food you know exactly what you’re putting into your child. Grill food instead of frying it so that you don’t add too much extra fat. Your child will quickly get used to difference in taste. We need to make sure we provide a healthy balanced diet for children in our care.

Childhood obesity prevention tip 5. Sit down together to eat regularly

Just cook one meal for the whole family. Often we do everything in a rush and don’t have time to sit down and eat a healthy meal together. This not only involves spending quality time together but it also means you have time observe what your child eats and they can see the healthy balance diet you’re eating!

Childhood obesity prevention tip 6. Have healthy snacks in the house

With childhood obesity rates rising and more overweight toddlers we need to be concerned about our children’s healthy eating patterns. Today children eat more snacks than they used to. Life is lived at faster pace and we want to fill a hunger space quickly. If you introduce more healthy snacks into your home that’s what children will have access to. Leave the snack with high sugar and fat content on the shelf in the store.

Childhood obesity prevention tip 7

Do something active together as a family on a frequent basis

Children get far less exercise than they used. Parents often prefer to keep their children in the house because they feel their safer. Encourage activity by doing something active together as a family.

For your child’s future health and life expectancy make sure your child eats a balanced diet and gets regular exercise. Restrict the amount of time your child spends sitting at his computer and playing other electronic games.

By Maureen Lawrence
advice4parents.com