Childhood Obesity On The Rise: Things To Know
According to a report, about of youth ages 10 to 17 had obesity. Childhood obesity is when a child’s body accumulates excess fat, significantly impacting their health and well-being. Therefore, it becomes important to educate children and their families about preventing obesity in children.
Childhood Obesity: A Serious Threat To Kids
Childhood obesity is a cause of concern as it can lead to various chronic health disorders like:
- Diabetes
- Heart Problems
- Sleep Apnea
- Psychological Impacts
Therefore, it becomes important to connect with the Best Urgent Care in Redford, which can help you stay ahead of any of these complications by providing proactive measures and consulting.
What Can Cause Your Child To Get Obese?
Family history, psychological factors, and lifestyle all play a role in childhood obesity. Further, children whose parents or family members are overweight or have obesity are more likely to get obese.
But the main cause of childhood obesity is the combination of eating too much, consuming unhealthy treats, and exercising too little.
Tips To Safeguard Your Kids Against Childhood Obesity
- No Screen Time While Eating
Avoiding screen time while having meals prevents distracted eating, encourages mindful consumption, and reduces the likelihood of overeating. Also, limiting screen time creates opportunities for family engagement and eliminates triggers that lead to consuming unhealthy foods.
- Watch Out for The Sugar Intake
Fostering healthier eating habits from a young age can have huge impact on the child’s overall health. Monitoring sugar intake helps prevent childhood obesity by reducing empty calorie consumption. You can achieve this by offering whole foods, switching sugary drinks with water, and using natural sugars at home.
- Encourage Physical Activity
Your kids should stay active for better physical health, enhanced cognitive development, and preventive obesity. Parents should motivate them to do this through daily play, sports, and outdoor activities.
- Focus On Their Sleep
Adequate sleep prevents conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity, injuries, and attention issues in children. Insufficient sleep is linked to unhealthy weight gain, possibly due to increased eating or reduced physical activity from lack of energy.
How Much Sleep Do Kids Need Per Day?
- 3-5 Years: 11 to 13 hours per day.
- 6-12 Years: 9 to 12 hours per day.
- Teenagers: 8 to 10 hours per day.
Not sure if your child’s sleeping patterns are healthy? Discuss with a doctor. Visit a reputed Urgent Care Clinic in Redford, like Garden City Urgent Cares, for fast and quality medical care.