Kids must learn healthy eating habits early<\/p>\n
By Donya Betancourt<\/p>\n
SANUR, Bali (JP): When discussing obesity in kids, I am mostly
\nconcerned about food and feeding habits of infants at the time
\nthey start eating solid food, when there is an opportunity to
\nintroduce healthy eating habits that will promote good health in
\nthe years to come.<\/p>\n
Children will typically adopt eating patterns that are
\npresented to them since it is easier for them to learn habits
\nthat they experience rather than see.<\/p>\n
Today, nutritionists and pediatricians are alarmed because
\nchildren consume more and more sweets, highly processed foods,
\nmeats, fried foods and salt. Consequently, obesity in children is
\non the rise -- which can lead to other health problems such as
\nheart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and sleeping
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
One of the problems in excessive use of fatty or sugary types
\nof junk food is that they quickly satisfy hunger so that children
\nwill subsequently eat too little of the valuable foods at meal
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Obesity is no longer the exception. Studies show the incidence
\nof obesity is 5 to 10 percent among preschool age children; 10
\npercent of school-age children, 15 percent of adolescent and 30
\npercent of adults. Furthermore, 20 percent of school age children
\nand 80 percent of adolescents who are obese, are likely to be
\nobese as adults.<\/p>\n
Obesity is defined by using the body mass index (BMI), which
\ncalculates weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters)
\nmultiplied by itself, [W\/H2]. Normal BMI is 20-24.9, anything
\ngreater than 25 means obesity.<\/p>\n
For example, if your child is three years old and is 94 cm
\ntall and weighs around 16 kg, BMI [16 divided by (0.94x0.94)]
\nequals 18. Therefore, he\/she is normal. However, if he\/she weighs
\n25 kg (BMI equals 28), there is reason for concern.<\/p>\n
Some health experts say weight-for-height is imprecise and
\noverly restrictive. I however believe in the rule of eye method,
\nif the child looks fat he\/she probably is fat.<\/p>\n
What causes obesity?<\/p>\n
I am talking about simple obesity, which means an excessive
\ndeposition and storage of fat from nutritional imbalance and
\nphysical inactivity -- too much of the wrong types of food and
\ntoo little exercise. The second type of obesity derives from
\nillness or hormonal problems which need to be diagnosed for its
\nexact cause.<\/p>\n
As for the simple case of obesity, several factors can
\nincrease a child's chances of becoming overweight: genetic,
\neating habits, appetite and unhappiness.<\/p>\n
Research has proven that if there is no obese family member,
\nthe chances for an average child to be obese is 3 to 7 percent,
\nbut if one of the parents is obese, the child has a 40 percent
\nchance of obesity. If both parents are obese, the kid will have
\nan 80 percent chance of being burdened with obesity.<\/p>\n
In my opinion, excessive fat intake and inactivity -- for
\nexample too much time in front of video games and televisions,
\nand eating too many processed foods with too little exercise --
\nare the two most common and easily treated factors leading to a
\nfat child.<\/p>\n
A child who has a tremendous appetite and finds rich foods
\nappetizing like potato chips, meats, cheese, cakes and cookies is
\ngoing to be heavier than the child who prefers vegetables, fruit
\nand grain.<\/p>\n
Unhappiness from loneliness, depression or worries about
\nschoolmates sometimes make children seek comfort in overeating,
\nwhich needs to be looked at if your are treating an obese child.<\/p>\n
How does obesity affect the body?<\/p>\n
Obesity is a serious problem for any child since it can effect
\nthe child both physically and mentally so it should be treated as
\nsoon as it appears.<\/p>\n
If a baby is becoming unusually plump during the first year,
\nthis should not be considered cute and one should start shifting
\nfoods to more vegetables, fruits, whole grain or beans.<\/p>\n
If you are aware the child is overweight or obese, it is your
\nresponsibility as a parent to make the changes in his or her
\ndiet. There is no strict diet for children, but the family will
\nbe an important role model. If you want to give your child low
\nfat food, the whole family should eat the same foods, stop
\nkeeping cookies or sweets around the house, eat an apple or
\norange to satisfy your own craving for sugar and demonstrate to
\nyour child new ways of eating more nutritious foods. Doing this
\nwill change the child's attitude towards food in a short period
\nof time.<\/p>\n
Medicine for obesity should be used on doctor's orders only
\nwhen the child is gaining weight too fast.<\/p>\n
Here is a recommendation for a child older than two years old
\nto maintain a good healthy weight. Daily foods should be:
\n* Vegetables 3-5 servings (count per serving: a cup of raw leafy
\ngreens, 1\/2 cup of other kinds)
\n* Fruit 2-4 servings (count per serving: a medium apple, orange
\nor banana; 1\/2 cup of small diced fruit; 3\/4 cup of juice)
\n* Grains found in bread, cereals, rice and pasta 6-11 servings
\n(count per serving: a slice of bread; 1\/2 bun, bagel, or English
\nmuffin; 1 ounce of cereal; 1\/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice or
\npasta).
\n* Dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese 2-3 servings (count
\nper serving: a cup of milk or yogurt or about 1-1\/2 ounces of
\ncheese).
\n* Proteins found in meats, fish, dry beans and peas, eggs and
\nnuts two to three servings (count 1\/2 cup of cooked dry beans or
\npeas as a serving of vegetables or as 1 ounce of meat).<\/p>\n
Tactful parents can do a great deal to keep temptation away
\nfrom their overweight child without making an issue of it.<\/p>\n
My advice to all loving parents is, let's start today in
\nshowing our children good eating habits that will keep them fit
\nand eat good food throughout their life. Moreover, let's pull the
\nplug on the video games and televisions and go for a walk.<\/p>\n
The writer is a pediatrician based in Sanur, Bali. If you have
\nquestions, please contact her at drdonya@hotmail.com, or you can
\nreach her at features@thejakartapost.com.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kids-must-learn-healthy-eating-habits-early-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}