The BIG Issue: Childhood obesity
With daily headlines screaming out from the news-stands telling us that our children are obese, leading retailers introducing a range of plus-size clothing for kids, and the National Obesity Forum reporting that 27% of entrants to primary schools are overweight or obese - are we really becoming a nation of obese people?
Sadly, it would appear that the answer is yes, we are!
The number of overweight and obese children in the UK has risen steadily over the past twenty years. In 2004 it was estimated that 14 percent of boys and 17 percent of girls aged two to fifteen were obese.
If a child is overweight or obese, it's more likely that they will develop some serious health problems more usually seen in adulthood, such as hardened and blocked arteries (coronary artery diseases), high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Overweight children are also twice as likely to be obese when they grow up as children who aren't overweight. The risk of health problems increases the more overweight you become.
As well as being a risk to the child's health, being overweight as a child may also cause emotional problems. Teasing about appearance can affect a child's confidence and self-esteem, and can lead to isolation and depression.
Causes of childhood obesity
An unhealthy diet combined with a lack of exercise is the main causes of childhood obesity. High-calorie foods such as chocolates, sweets and fast food are cheap and readily available to children. Alongside this, physical activity and exercise are no longer a part of most children's days - some children never walk or cycle to school or play sport. Instead, many of them spend hours in front of a television or computer.
More than half of Britain's parents wrongly believe their children get enough exercise, according to a poll by The British Heart Foundation. The survey says only one in ten children gets enough exercise. The charity found seven in ten parents thought their children were "active enough", but only one in ten got an hour's exercise every day as recommended by the Government.
The charity said children were taking no more exercise than a decade ago and obesity levels had risen sharply since then. About one in three young people are overweight or obese, according to NHS data.
Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, said: "Mums and dads need to take off the blinkers about how active kids need to be in order to keep their hearts healthy.
"Parents have such an important role in helping and encouraging their kids to be more active by building exercise into their everyday lives - whether that's taking part in team sports, playing outside with their friends or walking to school."
Prevention of childhood obesity
If your child is overweight, you shouldn't encourage a strict diet to lose excess weight. Instead you should help your child to maintain their weight so they can "grow into it" as they get taller.
The best way to do this is to make long-term improvements to your child's diet and eating habits, while increasing the amount of physical activity they do.
Children should be doing at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, but four out of ten boys and six out of ten girls don't reach this target.
There are lots of ways you can increase the amount of physical activity your child does.
- Encourage them to walk to school or the shops, rather than always going by car or bus.
- Try to get the whole family involved in activities such as bike rides and swimming. Suggest going to the park for a game of football, cricket or frisbee.
- Visit a local leisure centre to investigate sports and team activities your child could get involved in.
- Make exercise into a treat by taking special trips to an adventure play park or an ice skating rink, for example.
- Encourage active playtime activities such as dancing or skipping.
It’s never too early to introduce sport and physical activity to your child.
Our company’s overall objective is to encourage more children to get physically active, and to provide them with a positive introduction to sport. We appreciate that children who become passionate about sport at a young age are far more likely to continue to participate as they get older, thereby reducing the instance of both childhood and adult obesity.
Physically inactive pastimes, such as watching television or playing computer games, should be limited to less than two hours a day. Try and encourage your child to be selective about what they watch to reduce the amount of time spent watching television.
The good news is that it's probably easier to change a child's eating and exercise habits than it is to change an adult's.
About the author
Phil Banister is the Director of Little Kickers West Sussex & Kent Borders. He says: “After over 20 years in corporate retail, I had children and wanted something different. I had friends involved with Little Kickers and both the business and personal challenges made the lifestyle change an appealing decision. I have to admit I still work hard but on my terms, mostly, and the satisfaction of what I do is crucial and hey playing football with kids and seeing the fun they have and the good it does makes a real difference to what I now enjoy.” The Little Kickers programme went national in 2002 for children from 18 months to 7yrs old and works on the basis that children are much more likely to learn if their imaginations are engaged and skills are introduced through play.
Phil Banister’s contact details:
Little Kickers West Sussex & Kent Borders
Tel: 01293 226201
Mob: 07596 431771
E-mail: pbanister@littlekickers.co.uk
Website: www.littlekickers.co.uk
Copyright YourDoc Medical Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.
