According to the website of Partnership for a Healthier America, "childhood obesity is a serious, growing epidemic, cutting across all categories of race, ethnicity, family income, and locale." It is a real threat that American children may even have shorter lifespan than their parents.
Problem on obesity begins at a surprisingly earlier age, with 21.2% of those with ages 2 to 5 already overweight or obese. The previous three decades saw this percentage doubled. What are the top reasons for childhood obesity?
Unhealthy Food Choices
Kids love food high in sugar -- candies, chocolate bars, cakes, ice cream... name it and they will never think twice about eating it. Snacking, according to Parenting.com, is also a culprit. Children are used to it every day (or throughout the day) that more than 20% of their daily caloric intake accounts for it. However, it is time that they shift to healthy food choices. Parents should prepare not only brown bag lunches for them but also healthy snacks (like fruits) that they can consume in school.
Family's Eating Patterns
Naturally, obese or overweight parents follow unhealthy eating patterns. They do not concern themselves with the types of foods they serve to the whole family. This is one of the top reasons for childhood obesity. Kids take what is given to them. Toddlers in particular learn to consume what they see from their parents. Changing to healthy eating patterns is the best way to fight obesity. It should start from the kitchen, where moms should stock cooking ingredients that are good for the body and mind of their children.
No Physical Activity
Living a sedentary lifestyle is also among the top reasons for childhood obesity. Parents prefer their kids to stay at home and just watch TV and play computer games because they feel they are safer inside. They do not realize that these contribute to heaviness. With lack of physical activity, they gain weight. Again, moms and dads should include physical activities in their daily tasks. They should teach them to walk going to a nearby grocery store instead of riding a car. They should also workout together on weekends.
