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To help the overweight child lose weight it is recommended to change the eating habits and daily activities of the whole family so that it is easier for the child to eat the right foods.
Childhood obesity is characterized by excess weight among babies and children up to 12 years of age. The child is identified as obese when his body weight exceeds the average weight by 15% corresponding to his age. This excess weight increases the child's risk of developing serious health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, sleep disorders, high cholesterol or liver problems, for example.
Childhood obesity is a condition that can happen due to genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, occurring when calorie consumption is greater than energy expenditure, resulting in an increase in the body's fat deposit and, consequently, weight gain.
To find out how much weight your child needs to lose, enter your child's or adolescent's data here:
If altered BMI results are seen, it is important that the nutritionist is consulted, as it is thus possible to ensure that the child's development happens normally. Childhood is a stage of life in which there should be no deprivation of nutrients and, therefore, it is important that a complete nutritional assessment is carried out in order to establish an adequate eating plan and adapted to the child's lifestyle and needs.
How to treat childhood obesity
Treatment for childhood obesity should be done progressively and under the guidance of a pediatrician and a nutritionist, and psychological monitoring may also be necessary in some cases.
Usually, treatment for childhood obesity is based on changes in the child's diet and increased levels of physical exercise, depending on his age and general health. It is also important that the child's family is also involved in the process, because that way it is easier for the child to acquire other healthier habits.
In the rarest cases, the doctor may recommend the use of medications to help decrease appetite or to treat a disease that may be related to weight gain.
Here are some tips in the following video to help your child lose weight:
How to improve your child's diet
Parents should help their child to adopt healthy eating habits and, for that, some tips are:
- Avoid buying processed foods, as they are rich in sugar and / or fats. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid cookies, cakes and pre-prepared meals;
- Have a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and give preference to citrus fruits and vegetables eaten raw;
- Vegetables that need to be cooked, such as green beans, eggplant, zucchini or mushrooms, must be prepared by steam, without salt and the oil must be added in a small amount;
- Make steamed or grilled food preparations, avoiding frying and sauces;
- Do not offer soft drinks to children, giving preference to water and natural and sugar-free fruit juices;
- Buy a child-sized plate;
- Prevent the child from being distracted during the meal, not allowing him to watch TV or play games;
These tips should be adapted according to the family's lifestyle and according to the nutritionist's guidelines.
Watch the following video and check out these and other tips on what to eat to help you lose weight in a healthy way:
How to make your child spend more energy and exercise
Regular physical exercise is essential to help your child lose weight. Some tips to help parents encourage exercise include:
- Limit the use of computers and television to up to 1 hour a day;
- Look for activities that the child likes;
- Encourage the family to regularly participate in outdoor activities;
- Allow the child to try various activities such as judo, swimming, karate, soccer or dance school, for example.
These tips prevent the child from maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, making it possible to maintain a healthy weight, regardless of hormonal changes typical of age.
Causes of childhood obesity
Childhood obesity can happen due to several factors, the most common being the excessive consumption of foods high in fat and sugar and the fact that the child does not want to play to expend energy, running, jumping or playing ball, for example.
However, there are other causes that are less frequent, such as hormonal changes, such as hypothyroidism, primary hyperinsulinemia and hypercortisolism, and genetic changes mainly related to leptin or its receptor, and genetic diseases, such as Prader Willi Syndrome and Syndrome Turner's. In addition, the use of some medications, such as glucocorticoids, estrogens, antiepileptics or progesterone may also favor weight gain.
In addition, a family history of overweight or obesity can make it easier for a child to gain weight easily, since he or she adopts the family's lifestyle habits. See more about the causes of childhood obesity.