| A few short years ago child obesity was a rare thing, | | | | happen in the first place. |
| but today it's all to common around the world and | | | | Prevention is much better than treatment. But most |
| especially in the United States, which now has one of | | | | people are reluctant to change their way of living. |
| the highest rates of child obesity of any country in | | | | The solution is simple: healthy eating habits and more |
| the world. It is the fault of adults--NOT children, and | | | | exercise. However, coercing unwilling, body conscious, |
| is arguably a form of child abuse, or at the very | | | | overweight children into sports or physical activity is |
| least, child neglect. | | | | likely to make the situation worse by further reducing |
| Occasionally, a child being overweight may be caused | | | | their participation in physical activity, serving only to |
| by a medical condition, but this is rare. Just as with | | | | fuel the rise in their ever expanding girth. |
| adults, there are a variety of potential causes for | | | | While nutritionist balk at the idea of regimented |
| child abuse, most of which are either preventable or | | | | dieting for children, all agree that a return to healthier |
| reversible. Food is the most important contributor to | | | | eating is the first step in combating this growing |
| obesity in children. | | | | trend of obesity among children. Studies indicate that |
| Fat children appear in families with fat parents more | | | | changes in children's diets seem to be more |
| frequently than not. Studies show that if mom and | | | | successful when preparation of familiar foods are |
| dad are overweight, all their children will be at least | | | | modified rather than news foods being substituted. |
| inclined to be, also. Interestingly, obese children are | | | | Following the Glycemic Index (GI) recommendations |
| considered healthy and of 'average weight' by their | | | | offers a healthy way for children to lose weight. GI |
| overweight parents. | | | | diets recommend we avoid refined carb foods like: |
| A fat child around the age of four or five is an | | | | white flour bread snacks, processed cereals and |
| indication of future health problems. It's a problem | | | | sugary soft drinks, instant rice/pasta, and cookies. |
| because if a child starts out life obese, they are | | | | Instead, we should eat unrefined carbs such as whole |
| more likely to stay that way for the remainder of | | | | grain oats, brown rice, whole grain bread and bread |
| their life. Obesity in children has introduced them to | | | | snacks. |
| diseases they were never prone to before. | | | | Adding a low GI food to a meal will lower the |
| Children who are overweight are at risk of developing | | | | Glycemic Index of the whole meal. Additionally, GI |
| high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, | | | | diets also tend to follow healthy eating guidelines and |
| gallstone formation, asthma, Type 2 diabetes, and | | | | are low in fats, especially saturates. Low-GI diets are |
| depression with low self esteem. Many of the | | | | easy in practice, using a "This for That" approach, |
| cardiovascular diseases that are manifested in | | | | and they do not restrict variety as many traditional |
| adulthood may have actually began in childhood. | | | | diets. Eating the GI diet way is absolutely healthy for |
| Armed with this knowledge, the biggest help when | | | | the body as well as the mind. |
| battling obesity is prevention, ensuring that it doesn't | | | | |