Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: What is obesity?

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children is a good foundation to give to them. Seeking for help in situations like this is very necessary

If we don’t collectively do something about it, it will stay with us for a very long time. Obesity and overweight particularly in children is not to be over looked by all standards. Research tells us a about how parents can fight the obesity epidemic for their good health of their children and even for themselves. But the question is we doing enough to bring this escalating problem to a manageable level? Let me be very specific, what are you doing to bring the problem of obesity and overweight particularly in children? As you ponder about that I want to bring to your attention that irrespective of what you are doing, AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care is doing something and are changing lives of people globally in regard to this problem. We don’t want you to be left out and so as we get into the discussion, I want to invite you and request you to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury if you or your child is struggling with obesity.

The simplest understanding of what obesity is would means having too much body fat. A child is obese if their weight is more than 20% higher than the ideal weight for a boy or girl of their age and height. These excess fats are the problem and the sooner we deal with them the better not just for us but for the generations to come. If we can pool together, then we will be we will bring up generations free of obesity and overweight. To help us do this, let us find some answers to these questions as we progress.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: How common is obesity and overweight?

The available statistics is worrying not just in the US but globally. However using the US as an example research indicates that in the years 1980-2000, the rate of obesity and overweight has more than double particularly in children and teens. It is no wonder that the problem is being considered an epidemic. Today figures have changed on the upward trend with about 17.1% of our children and teen being either obese or overweight. With this trend we must stop asking how common but join in the fight of the epidemic for a better tomorrow.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: What are the concerns about obesity in general?

Just like in the adults being obese increases a child’s risk for some serious and chronic childhood medical problems associated with overweight. Such conditions may include:

• Pre-diabetes and diabetes
• Heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Hyperlipidemia (too much cholesterol in the blood, which can clog the arteries)
• Sleep apnea and breathing problems
• Bone conditions, such as hip problems
• Gastro-intestinal diseases
• Early puberty
• Psychological problems, like poor self-esteem and depression

If this is not addressed at its initial stage, then these children are at greater risk of becoming obese adults and inheriting all the health problems associated with obesity lasting through the lifespan. These obesity-associated health problems include high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, gout, pulmonary problems, gall bladder disease, liver disease, psychosocial problems, reproductive problems, and some types of cancer.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: How can I tell if my child is overweight?

Just by mare observation of the size of your child is not conclusive enough to suggest that a child is overweight or obese. Periodic processional checkups are very necessary. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, doctor Akoury will help you establish the true status of your child and if found obese or overweight, the she will undertake certain natural and friendly treatment approach to help your child regain his/her healthy weight back. There are some different measurements a doctor may take to tell whether your child is overweight. Like for example:

• Weight and height – can be compared and plotted on a growth chart.
• Skinfold thickness – measured at the triceps (back of the upper arm) with a caliper that pinches the skin and fat together will be higher than expected in an overweight child.
• The best measurement to take is body mass index (BMI).  It is fairly complicated to calculate and understand. You can use the link above to read about how BMI is used with children, calculate your child’s BMI on the web calculator, and check your child’s BMI against the right chart for their age and sex to find out their percentile. Note that BMI above 85 percentile for children is at risk of overweight while that above 95 is not at risk but is overweight or obese.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: How do kids become obese or overweight?

Like most chronic health problems, obesity is caused by complex interactions between genes, environment and behavior or habits.
Many studies have shown that there is not a big difference in the amount of food eaten and physical activity between obese and non-obese kids.  Probably small differences in eating and activity over time really add up and lead to weight gain.   Obese children do tend to eat larger portions or higher calorie foods, like high-fat foods.

Physical activity and inactivity are very important factors. Actually children who take a lot of time on the screen and playing video games are potential overweight and obese candidates. In other wards such activities does not encourage movement and therefore little or no calories are burnt resulting into being obese or overweight. What is worrying is that most schools where our children attend do not have playing grounds. One would want to get solace that in place of playing ground there would be a well finished gym. You will be very disappointed if you thought so. All that is available is more rooms for class rooms, kitchen where unhealthy food is prepared and probably the administration blocks. Now if our children spend the better part of their lives in school and this is the kind of environment we have, what is the hope of losing weight?

In our introduction I said that at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care we are doing something and are changing lives of people globally. We intend to make a difference in the society and beyond. Doctor Akoury actually founded this facility center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Remember that if you don’t do something today, they you are transferring the many chronic complications associated with obesity and overweight to the next generation through your children.

If by reading this article you feel that you need help in eliminating this problem completely, then schedule for that very important appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today and let us help you bring up children with healthy weight for a healthy society. As you consider that it is also very important to remember that children coming from families with obese parents tend to be obese themselves. Like for instance in the event that one parent is obese or overweight, their teen has an 80% chance of being overweight. Why is this so? This is probably because of a combination of genetics and family behavior and habits. Children of moms who have diabetes are more likely to be overweight.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: What is obesity?