7 Reasons for Obesity in Children

Recognizing the reason will be the first action to keep your baby fit

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. Children who are obese are above the normal weight for their age and height.

Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once considered adult problems — diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Many obese children become obese adults, especially if one or both parents are obese.

Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression.

Causes of Obesity in Children: Identify the reason

It is widely accepted that increase in obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, with an increase in positive energy balance being closely associated with the lifestyle adopted and the dietary intake preferences.

However, there is increasing evidence indicating that an individual’s genetic background is important in determining obesity risk.

Sugary beverages

Sugary drinks are less filling than food and can be consumed quicker, which results in a higher caloric intake.

Sugary drinks are often thought of as being limited to soda, but juice and other sweetened beverages also fall into this category.

Snack foods

Another factor that has been studied as a possible contributing factor to childhood obesity is the consumption of snack foods.

Snack foods include foods such as chips, baked goods, and candy. Snacking has been shown to increase overall caloric intake resulting in an increase in weight.

Portion size

Portion sizes have increased drastically in the past decade. Consuming large portions, in addition to frequent snacking on highly caloric foods, contribute to an excessive caloric intake.

This energy imbalance can cause weight gain, and consequently obesity.

Activity level

One of the factors that is most significantly linked to obesity is a sedentary lifestyle. Television viewing among young children and adolescents has increased dramatically in recent years.

The increased amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors has decreased the amount of time spent in physical activity.

Environmental factors

While extensive television viewing and the use of other electronic media has contributed to the sedentary lifestyles, other environmental factors have reduced the opportunities for physical activity.

Opportunities to be physically active and safe environments to be active in have decreased in recent years.

Socio-cultural factors

Socio-cultural factors have also been found to influence the development of obesity. Our society tends to use food as a reward, as a means to control others, and as part of socializing. These uses of food can encourage the development of unhealthy relationships with food, thereby increasing the risk of developing obesity.

Family factors

Family factors have also been associated with the increase of cases of obesity. The types of food available in the house and the food preferences of family members can influence the foods that children eat.

In addition, family mealtimes can influence the type of food consumed and the amount thereof.

Lastly, family habits, whether they are sedentary or physically active, influence the child.

Conclusion:

There may be more than one reason for the cause of obesity. Most of the time, multiple factors play the role of weight gain in children.

If you find a single reason among these, take the next step to eliminate all the reasons for weight gain and encourage healthy eating and physical activities among yourself and your kids.

One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the eating and exercise habits of your entire family. Treating and preventing childhood obesity helps protect your child’s health now and in the future.