Childhood Obesity
This page on HealthMBA.com is about the effects of modern conveniences and poor habits that have influenced increased child and adolescent obesity. Being overweight at such an early age brings increased risk of adult obesity, serious heart disease, and poor self image at a crucial stage of development. Making a habit of more activity and a healthier diet as a family will turn back the negative impact of obesity in children.
Obesity in children and adolescents has been increasing in developed nations over recent decades. Medical studies assert that it is a health crisis resulting from bad fitness and nutrition habits in modern society that carries serious consequences. A lifetime of health issues including diabetes, cardiovascular, arthritis, body image and adult obesity problems can start for an individual at an early age with being overweight as a child. Due to more reliance on automated and time-saving convenience many of us simply get less exercise and lead a more sedentary lifestyle than generations before.
By traveling in automobiles and staying indoors to watch television we burn less calories and take fewer opportunities to get aerobic exercise or any muscle toning activities. Exercising less combined with a habit of eating fatty, starchy foods in excessive portion sizes adds up to a lot of weight gain. As a young person these have perhaps a greater effect as they are developing physically and emotionally. Developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes early on sabotages the body for the adult years, and having a poor self image hinders healthy emotional development that reaches far into later life. Being overweight often makes a child feel bad about themself and gives them low self esteem, which in turn holds them back from being socially outgoing.
Being overweight also tends to cause someone to be less likely to take up physically active hobbies like competitive sports or running for fun. Children will pick up lifelong habits from those in their family, so it's up to the parents and siblings to take on a healthier, more active lifestyle to watch out for those they care about. Getting involved as a family in more outdoor, active excursions can get the ball rolling in a more positive direction. Planning small hikes or just going to the park to play catch on the weekends can really get some good habits going, and you can prevent or turn back the effects of obesity in the children.
Making a habit of eating foods low in fat, cholesterol and salt will stave off heart disease and promote maintaining a healthy and attractive body form. While children are still learning and developing habits it is a great opportunity for parents to teach habits of activity and healthy eating that will carry on for the rest of their lives. It is not necessary for the conveniences of modern technology and lazy culture to undermine our happiness and good health. Although it may sometimes be due to heredity, children should not be led into such an unhealthy lifestyle that will have a negative impact on the rest of their adult lives.
