Infant Obesity and Healthy Eating Habits
Earlier, a fat child meant a healthy child, one who was likely to survive the rigors of undernourishment and infection. In the past decade however, excessive fat has become one of the primary childhood health problems. Obesity is defined as excessive accumulation of body fat. Today obesity in children and adolescents has become a serious issue especially in the United States, with over 25 % of children considered obese.
Healthy eating habits play a vital role in obesity at bay, a serious issue that affects babies more than you think. Child obesity rates are growing at epidemic levels. So much so, that some studies point to the fact that this new generation of children could well have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
Obesity occurs when an infant or child takes in more calories than the body can use. Obesity can have many causes, ranging from diet and lifestyle to, in rare cases, hormonal disorders. Causes include overfeeding; providing only high calorie beverages to satisfy thirst; using food to solve problems, relieve stress, or as a reward; and not providing enough opportunities for exercise. Studies have also shown that children who struggle over food when young tend to have more weight problems when they are older.
The idea of infant obesity is difficult to grasp: a fat baby’s a healthy baby, right? It seems ludicrous to discuss weight problems in infants, but it does happen. In fact, adult weight problems are now being linked to infant obesity. Our eating habits as adults are, in part, determined by how we’re fed as babies.
It’s a lot easier to prevent obesity with healthy eating habits and physical activity then it is to treat it later on. We are learning that “fat babies” are likely to become fat children who are likely to become obese adults. And the trouble with obesity is that it all too often brings with it serious medical problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and its complications, heart and lung disease, an increased risk for cancer and even orthopedic problems.
Like most problems in life, childhood obesity prevention is far easier than treating it, although much of the success of prevention depends on parental involvement and communication is the key. You will need to make an interesting conversation about nutrition, especially child nutrition, and you will need to take the time necessary to create nutritious meals and snacks for them to eat.
To avoid overeating, teach children to eat small portions. When you’re eating, your stomach won’t know it’s full until 10 minutes after it’s already full. Many people overeat because of this. If you have a child who overeats, make sure you give him a regular-sized portion for his age.
