Childhood obesity has become a very serious issue in our society.
Did you know that almost 1 in 5 children are obese? This is causing our children to suffer from not only health problems like hypertension and diabetes, but also low-self esteem and depression.
Parents need to take full responsibility for their children's weight.
You are responsibly for their overall health and well-being.
Do not deny your child's weight issue as baby fat or be under the misguided idea that they will simply grow out of it.
Many parents will not open their eyes to their child's weight problem until a health issues arises.
Unless your child has a medical condition, you can prevent or fix your child's weight issues.
There are several factors that could be contributing to your child's weight.
You need to evaluate your child's diet, activity level and overall emotional state.
Many children are genetically predisposed to weight issues; however, that does not mean they are destined to be overweight.
There are ways to prevent your child's weight from spiraling out of control.
The first thing you should look at is your child's diet.
Are they eating too much sugar or processed food? Many children are eating too many foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients.
Make sure your child has a diet filled with lots of fruits and vegetables and drinks plenty of water everyday.
After you look at your child's diet, you need to see how active they are.
Many children today are simply inactive and spend too much time in front of the television or computer.
You need to make sure that your child is active at least 1 hour per day.
Once you have evaluated your child's diet and activity level, you need to look at their overall emotional state.
Are they stressed or depressed? Have they suffered a loss? Are they being bullied at school? Many children today are under massive amounts of stress which is contributing to their weight problems.
If your child appears stressed or depressed, you should seek the advice of a mental health professional that specializes in children.
Finally, some children are genetically predisposed to have weight problems.
If you are obese, then your child has a higher chance of becoming overweight and obese as well.
Take time to learn proper nutrition and get active as a family.
At the end of the day, childhood obesity is preventable.
You should consult your child's pediatrician before making any drastic changes to your child's diet or exercise.
You need to find out if your child has any underlying medical conditions that could be a contributing to your child's weight problems.
Once you and your doctor determine that your child is healthy, you need to work with your child and doctor in creating a healthy lifestyle change.
You may want to seek advice from a nutritionist or dietitian that specializes in childhood obesity prevention.