Overweight children

Just because a child is big and chubby, does not mean he or she is healthy. Overweight children are prone to health problems and may have medical conditions that will last their entire lifetime. Foods these days are filled with fat and the technology has lessen the physical activities of children. These are some of the main reasons why there is rapid growing number of overweight children in the world these days. Endocrine system problems may also be the cause for being overweight among children, but only rarely.

Measurement

The tool used to determine how much fat does a person have in his or her body, the Body Mass Index is used. To know if your child is overweight or obese you must use the Body Mass Index or BMI. If your child is at the 85th or below the 95th in the BMI, then your child is considered overweight. If your child has a BMI that is above the 95th, then your child is obese. The doctor will also use the BMI during routine examinations to check if your child is obese or overweight.

Risks

The main health risk that your child may get are two types of diabetes. These are high blood pressure and high cholesterol level. Bone and joint problems may also become medical problems among overweight children. Other problems that may happen to your child as he or she gets older are substance abuse, depression, gall bladder disease, liver disease, and abnormal sleeping patterns. Your child may also obtain cardiovascular problems because of being overweight.

Appropriate weight

There are certain changes that must be done and must become a habit to slowly get the overweight child to a healthier body weight and maintain that weight. The easiest change that an overweight child will do is decreasing his or her caloric intake. If you stop your child from eating his or her favorite food just to reduce caloric intake, you may fail. Just slowly remove the food that has high calories, but this does not mean cutting of his or her favorites immediately. Your child must also become physically active. You can introduce him or her to a new sport beside video games and you must be there to play with him or her. The parents must be involved in the changes that their children will be doing to lose weight and maintain the proper weight. Preventing the activities that will add more weight to the child is better than treatment. So, if you can help your child discipline himself or herself in eating the right food and become more active, then it would be very beneficial to your child. The parents must also be active with the child, and the parents must also eat the right food. The parents must serve as the role models of the child. The parents and family must give the appropriate social support that the overweight child needs to gain the appropriate weight.