Obesity in ChildrenIntroduction to Obesity in Children. Lets begin the road to prevention and treatment! Even though it may seem obvious, it must be known that children are not small adults. For that reason, this section will focus specifically on obesity in children. Since children and teens are not small adults, ways of identifying overweight and obesity are different. However, some principals are the same. As you’ve probably noticed, there are tons of books, shows, magazines, and commercials (I could keep going, but you get the point) on some new and improved weight loss technique. Some of these ideas are true and helpful, while others are not. We will help guide you down the healthy lifestyle option! Just keep in mind that all of the information out there is based on a simple equation of calories: Calories in> Calories out = Weight gain Basically, if you consume more calories then you give off, then weight gain will be the result. However, if you expend more calories then you take in, weight loss will occur. This section will go over the general guide for how many calories you should be consuming daily, and how many you should be working off. You’ll be happy to know that your body actually burns off some calories even while sleeping! Fantastic! You are on the right track if getting a good night’s sleep is on your daily checklist. (More on the benefits of weight loss with a good night’s sleep later.) You may be asking how it is possible to burn calories while sleeping. Think of your body as a machine. Your body needs fuel (food), to operate. This is why you want good food with nutrients in your body, so that it can run with top notch performance! Your body uses this fuel to keep your body operating and alive. Walking, sitting at a desk, lying on the couch, even breathing all requires some energy (even if it is just a little bit of energy). This doesn’t give you permission to sit on a couch or sleep all day and expect to drop weight! There are many components of obesity in children that will be covered:
Obesity in children may start at a very young age. Studies have shown that overweight children are more likely to be overweight or obese adults compared to a normal weight child. Overweight children also have an increased risk of weight related diseases, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease, in adolescence and adulthood. I was surprised and scared to find out children as young as three years old can see thickening in the arteries due to cholesterol. Crazy! This just shows how important it is to teach a healthy lifestyle at a very young age. I personally believe that prevention is the key to leading a healthy life. You may be asking, how exactly do I teach a healthy lifestyle to my three year old? There are many tips that we will share, but remember one crucial tip: Lead by example. I’ve worked with many clients through my years of training, but the mother’s and fathers usually have one common goal: to teach the importance of exercise and healthy eating to their children. For instance, I have one mother with a very demanding job, who came to me two years ago for help. When we first started working together in her home, her four year old daughter thought I was coming to torture her! Today it is a different story. Her daughter watches and mimics some of our movements, even offers encouragement to her mom! It is possible to teach and incorporate a healthy lifestyle, no matter what age! We will be there to offer you information, tips, guidelines, and advice every step of the way to defeat obesity in children. Yours in health in fitness, Cory Norbutus
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