Combat Childhood Obesity with Healthy Eating and Exercise

Obesity is not just a problem that affects adults. In fact, more than nine million adolescents in the United States are classified as obese. Being overweight can cause a myriad of physical and mental health problems, both in the short and long term. The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat childhood obesity, including a healthy diet and a daily dose of good, old-fashioned exercise.

Children with a BMI in the 95th percentile or higher are considered obese. Kids falling in the range of 85-94th percentile are considered overweight. Obese children are at a higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, high cholesterol, early puberty and sleep disorders. Additionally, children that are obese often have low self-esteem and experience more depressive episodes than their peers. Further, many obese children have behavioral and learning problems, which may result from anxiety and poor peer relations.

If you have a child who is overweight or obese, it’s a good idea to begin a health regimen in order to avoid the possibility of bariatric surgery later in life. Healthy eating is the primary way that one can lose weight and move out of the obese category. Speak with your child’s doctor, and request the services of a registered dietician. Together, this team can put together an eating plan that will help your child lose weight. The diet should be rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruit and lean protein. Further, the child should avoid sugar, sodas and high-fat foods.

The final piece of the puzzle is to increase a child’s level of physical exercise. Diet and exercise are shown to work better than medications used to help people lose weight and can reduce the probability of weight loss surgery later in life.