The epidemic in childhood obesity is of a great concern to both parents and authorities. More and more children are becoming overweight.
Children are increasingly entertained by technology instead of spending time outdoors in physical activity. This factor, together with unhealthy
eating is the main cause of the increase in the child obesity rate.
Overweight children become overweight adults, passing the bad habits of little exercise and unhealthy food choices on to their children, and
thereby raising overweight children in their turn.
Parents should look at their own eating habits and lack of exercise and change it, in order to pass the changes on to their children. That is
the only way to combat and prevent childhood obesity. The entire family should acquire healthier habits of eating and exercising, and pass the
legacy on to future generations.
Solutions
We all know that the variety of video games, computer games and internet entertainment is the cause of our children’s sedentary lifestyles,
but we have to take responsibility for changing the situation and creating solutions. Studies have shown that children that are allowed unlimited
time in front of the computer or playstation are the ones most prone to childhood obesity, as they are not encouraged to play outside or
participate in sport activities.
Staying indoors for such long periods of time also leads to snacking on unhealthy foods and a proper nutritious diet is usually not adhered
to. All these factors lead to an increase in the childhood obesity rate.
Technology may be blamed for causing the children to sit for hours at a time and not get exercise, but it is the responsibility of the parents
to get the children outside and exercising. Children can still enjoy these indoor activities, but a balance should be reached, in that they
should participate in physical activities to ensure a lowering of the child obesity rate and increase their health and wellbeing.
Parents should take the lead by setting an example of healthy eating habits and regular exercising. It would be a good idea to involve the
children in their exercise, and to plan family activities that are fun and provide a release of energy. This can lower the child obesity rate and
create healthy habits for future generations.
A small percentage of obese children suffer from health issues that are not diet- or exercise related. In order to exclude such conditions, a
physician should be consulted. It is imperative that the childhood obesity rate must be drastically lowered from current levels.