Helping Children Beat Obesity Improves Their Health and Fitness

Childhood obesity has become a huge problem in our society and is not going away in a hurry. It presents a high cost and concern for our health system. It’s something that’s preventable in almost every case but is on the increase.

More and more children are becoming overweight mainly due to their sedentary lifestyles. Children are exercising less and eating mainly processed food. Energy input and output is not balanced. Food eaten is not utilised as energy but stored as fat.

In Australia, UK and US around 20% - 30% of children are overweight. It’s affecting their health and fitness of body and mind.

Overweight children often suffer from tiredness, breathlessness on exertion, heat intolerance, poor self esteem, lack of motivation, bullying at school and depression. Having said that I must say that being fat is not as much of a bullying issue in schools because there are more overweight children. It’s becoming the norm!

It’s amazing how many families have very little idea about healthy nutrition and even which foods to buy. There is too much to choose from.

Manufacturers promote their products, which they have every right to, but this leaves some people very confused about what to buy and what healthy food means. Some processed products are labelled as healthy food which creates even more confusion.

Basically healthy food is made from fresh ingredients with very little additives or preferably none. Eating processed food occasionally is Ok as long as most of the diet consists of fresh ingredients. Drinking water instead of soft drinks. You can invest in a juicer and juice up your own fruit and vegetables.

It’s never too late to change your eating habits. It gives you energy, vitality and a leaner body.
Some of the long term risks of obesity include stress on the joints (ankles, knees, hips), adult and adolescence obesity, prone to developing conditions later in life including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or psychological problems (depression, anxiety, poor self esteem).

Causes of obesity:
• Family influences and sedentary lifestyle
• Environmental influences
• Genetics
• Predisposing health conditions

How you can help children beat obesity:
• Consult a health professional
• Change your lifestyle, introduce healthy eating and exercise
• Positive role modelling
• Encourage physical activity and self discipline with long term health and fitness benefits, try yoga, swimming, walking, martial arts or computer fitness programs that the whole family can enjoy in the privacy of your own home

One of the main factors when introducing lifestyle change is empowering and educating the entire family.
Some of the factors to consider:
• Family dynamics
• Work and individual responsibilities
• Socio economic status
• Level of education
• Culture
• Individual willingness to change

It’s difficult to introduce any lifestyle change without achieving a high rate of willingness to change first. The family members may need counselling prior to any health coaching.
There may be some past unresolved issues which are currently compensated by eating to escape from negative emotions.