Posted on November 3, 2007 in Latest News
Obesity is not a consequence of excessive eating alone. There are sociological factors that primarily lead to obesity. The family and the environment in which children grow up influence children’s minds more than any other things. Researchers have found that there is a connection between poor parenting and the development of obesity in children. Children learn and practice behaviours at home first. So parents have a major role to play in early part of their children’s lives.
There are many causes which lead to obesity in children and here we will focus on some of the child obesity causes.
Insufficient physical activity
In most cases Children imitate their parents and do what their parents tell them to do. Obese parents may not be physically active and children tend to live a less active life. They sit back and enjoy watching TV for more hours than they should because there are no parks and no recreational facilities in the neighbourhood. Obesity uses a sort of lethargy and children get used to it and they also show disinterest in physical activity. The other types of games children can play are video games which again requires one to be glued to the screen. This becomes an addictin and they sit for hrs playing games. Video games ra eso addictive that children would like to have a quick bite and resume with their games. So beverages and fast foods are sothething that they can quicky consume and carry on with their games. So sedentary behavior and fast foods are the causes of childhood obesity.
Watching TV
Children watching TV are exposed to commercials on food and toys and they choose to consume a lot of food that is advertised on TV. Watching TV regularly for hrs gradually become an addiction for children and TV becomes a major recreation for children. As a result children want to do, eat and live the way they see things shown on television.
Intake of food with high fat content
Eating out is an attraction for children because that is the time they get a chance to go out with parents. Packed foods from outside and especially beverages delivering empty calories are displacing more nutrient-rich diet continuously. So regular consumption of such foods only add on to children’s body weight only.
Infant children are biased to food cooked at home
Most of the times kids do not show interest in food. Eating habits are inculcated by parents. Children easily pick up eating chocolates and other flavoured drinks and beverages more than plain water and bland food. As normal food does not come with color and show they don’t feel like eating it. And we should not forget that a child has its own moods and temperaments and environment plays a big role in influencing children’s dietary habits.
Genetic factors
Sometimes it is the genes or medical reasons that make children obese and in such cases doctors can help in controlling child obesity. Children may also suffer from other problems like thyroid which may make a child overweight, but thyroid problems are not commonly found in children.
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