Protect your child from obesity
Parents simply don’t recognise their child’s overweight state.
Weigh-Less would like to highlight the importance of not only keeping your children safe, but healthy too, thereby protecting them against the epidemic of obesity that is fast plaguing South Africa.
The disease
The World Health Organisation warns that global rates of obesity have reached epidemic proportions, and sadly, our children have not been spared.
According to the Medical Research Council of South Africa, more than 17 per cent of children between the ages of one and nine living in urban areas are overweight.
The cumulative causes
The causes of childhood weight gain are varied, with lifestyle factors certainly playing their part.
“Environmental factors play an intertwined role with genetics to determine one’s shape and size,” says dietitian and member of the Weigh-Less panel of experts, Heidi Lobel.
“The last two decades have witnessed a 54 per cent increase in childhood obesity, which indicates that environmental factors are playing an increasing role.
“Increased dependence on fast foods and convenience foods is a major contributor.
“ In addition, society’s advancement in technology has conditioned our children into a sedentary lifestyle.”
Our problematic perspective
Another issue research is finding is that parents simply don’t recognise their child’s overweight state.
A survey carried out by the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, England found that 33 per cent of moms and 57 per cent of dads considered their child to be a at normal weight, when they were actually obese.
In South Africa, Weigh-Less conducted a similar study on its Facebook page last year.
They asked respondents if they thought a 9-year-old girl of a certain weight and height was overweight.
The results conveyed that 63 per cent of respondents said ‘no’, whilst 27 per cent weren’t sure, and only 18 per cent recognised that she was, in fact, at a risk.
Navigating the way forward
Experts agree that the best way forward is leading by example and employing long-term strategies.
Here’s what parents need to do:
- Deal with the psychology of the matter.
“Overweight children often feel bombarded with negative messages from school, at parties and through the media.
It’s imperative for parents to build self-esteem and body image to provide the tools for children to believe that they can achieve their goals,” says Heidi.
- Limit TV time and encourage kids to participate in sports at school
Introduce exercise-related activities, such as hiking, cycling or walking the dog, into family life (this includes the benefit of a non-threatening, non-competitive and fun environment).
- Teach your child how to handle stress in a healthy way.
Model the perfect example by keeping your own stress in check; stay organised, use relaxation techniques, and prioritise your responsibilities.
- Be a water advocate.
Instead of buying sodas, sports drinks, and juice boxes, consider having store-bought water on hand instead.
Not only does this help in cutting down on the amount of sugar in your child’s diet (and yours), but it also keeps them hydrated.
- Offer children a variety of nutritious foods to promote healthy behaviour and to motivate and enable weight loss.
Similarly, teach children about the consequences of good and bad food choices.
Also read: The health reasons for the new sugar tax
5 Low-fat foods that are actually bad for you
Diabetes epidemic can be prevented by modifying lifestyle
Follow us:
