Feature:
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The grave problem of obesity slipped
quietly onto the children’s health agenda sometime in
the past decade bringing with it a whole raft of social,
economic and health problems. This week we examine why
an alarmingly high number of Australian children are
obese, what this means for their long-term health and
how to successfully help a child achieve a healthy weight.
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Now in epidemic proportions - 23% of Australia children are overweight
or obese and this presents special challenges to parents,
health professionals and the kids themselves. Not only are children
faced with the social stigma of being overweight, they may also
be heading towards a lifetime of psychological and physical disease.
Although several factors conspire to cause childhood obesity, there
is no mystery about the cause. It results from more energy going
into the body than going out. In other words, too much food and
not enough exercise.
Lack of exercise
The advent of cars and sedentary toys, and the disappearance
of green grass and safe play areas, have moved children off their
feet and onto chairs. In safer times, kids went out after breakfast
and didn't come home until dinner. Now, endless hours are spent
watching TV or playing computer games.
Poor Nutrition
In addition to lack of exercise, children are eating foods
high in fat and sugar and less fruit and vegetables.
To find evidence of just how fattening foods aimed at kids are,
two recent Choice investigations discovered that fast-food burgers
contain up to 3½ tablespoons of fat and that many breakfast
cereals are "sugar-laden and fibre-flimsy".
How much fat in that fast-food meal? Visit the Choice
web site to find out.
There is also concern over the advertising of unhealthy food aimed
at children.
Predicting obesity
- Many children will have some baby fat into toddler-hood - this
is normal.
- A child is vulnerable if a sibling or one or both parents are
overweight.
- Obese children have a 25-50% chance of progression to adult
obesity.
- Breastfeeding may protect against childhood obesity.
- Medical causes of obesity are possible, but rare.
- Studies have found that mums are an important factor in their
children's weight and approach to food
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