Be healthy, not heavy.

Children can be overweight but still healthy – this notion has been around for some time. But don’t be fooled. You should not ignore significant weight gain and the implications it has for your children’s future health. Excess weight comes with health risks. But do you have any idea about how much is too much?

While the scale and clothes are the best ways to measure weight gain, everyday movements can reveal how excess weight affects your children’s health. For instance, are your children getting easily exhausted when they climb a flight of stairs or walk a few blocks on a flat surface at a brisk pace? If yes, then you should be wary.

Here are some of the quick facts about obesity in children.

• Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder among children and adolescents.
• Approximately 25% of children and teenagers are obese.
• Child obesity has increased up to 400% over the past 30 years.

Causes of child obesity

There are a variety of reasons why children become overweight and obese. The most common causes are listed below.

• Diet: If your child regularly eats high-calorie foods such as fast foods, baked goods and vending machine snacks, it can cause your child to gain weight. Candy, desserts, sugary drinks including fruit juices also can cause weight gain.
• Lack of exercise: Children who don’t exercise much are more likely to gain weight as they don’t burn enough calories. Too much time spent on inactive activities such as watching television or playing video games also contributes to the problem.
• Stress: Personal, parental and family stress can increase a child’s risk of obesity. Some children overeat to cope with problems or to deal with emotions like stress or to fight boredom.
• Family features: If your children are from a family of overweight people, then it is more likely for them to put on weight. This is particularlyfactual in a background where high-calorie foods are consumed all the time and physical activity isn't encouraged.

Symptoms of obesity in children

Not all children carrying extra kilos of weight are overweight or obese. Some children have larger than average body frames. Also, children usually carry different amounts of body fat at the various development stages. So you might not know by how your child looks if weight is a health concern. Some of the symptoms of obesity in children are as follows:

• An increased weight that is at least 20% more than the normal for that age
• Poor eating habits that usually include overeating and indulgence in food
• A lack of desire to do any physical exercise

Prevention

Whether your child is at risk of becoming overweight or is currently at a healthy weight, you can take measures to get or keep things on the right track.

• Limit your child’s consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or avoid them.
• Provide plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Limit eating out, especially at fast-food restaurants. Make sure to teach your child how to make healthier choices when you do eat out.
• Adjust portion sizes appropriately for age.
• Limit TV and other “screen time” to less than 2 hours a day for children older than 2.
• Be sure your child gets enough sleep.

Treatment for child obesity

Homeopathy effectively treats child obesity in many ways. Homeopathic medicines increase the child’s metabolism without any side effects. These medicines are selected based on the specific reasons that cause child obesity.

Conclusion

You shouldn’t obsess over your children’s small weight gain, but don’t ignore it either. Being mindful about your children’s weight can help to maintain your children’s overall health in a better way. The doctors at Dr Batra’s assess the child’s lifestyle, temperament, behaviour, eating habits and any associated complaints that may arise due to obesity in children.