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The problem of obesity
In the USA, the problem of obesity is so serious that even the First Lady participate and helps in its solution. This particular problem affects the societies of many countries, especially those with high living standards. The researches on children’s obesity carried in the USA clearly indicate that ‘dead-center’ of obesity among children most commonly occurs before the age of 2 or sooner – sometimes, during first few months after the birth. These researches also suggest the obesity prevention before the child reaches 2 years. If the children in this age reach the ‘dead-center’ in obesity progress, they most likely will be obese in their later life.
What is the main cause of obesity among children?
One of the main causes of obesity not only among children, but also among adults is diet. The biggest problem of unhealthy diet is the sugar consumption that exceeds the needs of child’s and adult’s organism. The problem is not about the amount the calories but about the quality of these calories. If a child consumes too large amounts of carbohydrates, the overall amount of sugars in blood is increased. Too big concentration of sugar causes the organism to produce insulin in order to withstand the excess of sugar in blood. The main role of insulin is to regulate the sugar level in blood and also it takes part in the building process of fat tissue. High level of insulin maintained in a child’s organism causes the child to be less vulnerable to it – insulin fails to control the sugar level in blood and causes the consumed calories to be transformed into the fat tissue. So the calories that should be used as a source of energy in current physical activities are changed right into the fat tissue. The situation is a vicious circle, because the child that consumes excessive carbohydrates, has an excess of insulin in its organism and it causes the carbohydrates to be storage as a fat instead of being burned as a source of energy. The child becomes hungry in a short time after eating a meal because it has no energy for plays, games and other physical activities as the carbohydrates were stored in the form of fat tissue. Excessive amounts of sugars and high insulin level are the direct causes of obesity among children.
So it is not the lack of activity and excessive fat consumption that cause the obesity problems among children, youth and adults. To a large degree, the rich carbohydrate diet is responsible for it.
What can we do to protect our children from obesity?
Now it is time to change the whole statistics on child obesity. It is a fight for the health of younger generations, to protect their childhood from the problems that were once known as “adult diseases.”
In this action, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles should be involved. Schools should be involved in this action as well. The list of activities that have to be done in our fight against children obesity is very long but it lists the matters that are very easy to accomplish.
Generally, the list can be divided into two main directions. Namely to provide the children with healthy food in no bigger amounts as they need and to provide the children with the proper dose of high quality physical activities.
Parents, school and media should be involved in providing children with healthy food. If parents do not care about what they eat and if they do not pay attention to any physical activities, their life style habits will be reflected in kids. At school, if the children have an easy access to the unhealthy food products, it is difficult for them to resist the temptation to eat these products. Also, if the school fails to provide the children and youth with sufficient amount of good quality activities that require increased physical effort, then the school contributes to the problem of obesity among youngsters. If the media avoid any discussions concerning the obesity problem, they also contribute to its development in a passive way.
What can be done at home and at school in order to protect the kids from obesity?
Children see their parents eating various food products. They also see their parents doing or avoiding to do physical activities. The parents can do a lot for their kids by introducing healthy food and sports activities into their life.
It is common to blame the TV, video games or sitting in front of a computer as the causes of obesity. And it is not necessarily true. Often, obese children are as physically active as other kids who do not have this problem. Therefore, the problem lies not in the lack of physical activities and excessive food consumption but in what the children eat. So it is the role of parents to provide their children not only with proper amount of physical activities but also with an access to healthy meals at school and at home. And a proper and healthy meal consists of fruits, vegetables and whole-wheat bread.
The health improvement of our children applies not only to their future life but also our future and the future of our country.
If we do not take any actions to stop the epidemic of obesity among young people, we condemn our children and youth on diseases at an early age that in previous generation touched only older people. This applies to, for instance, tyle 2 diabetes, heart diseases or strokes.
The prevention of obesity in childhood is vital, because we acquire our adult habits while we are children. The researches prove that obese teenage girl has up 80 percent chance of becoming obese as an adult person.
As parents and school we should learn to give the children the “real” food. If you can, check the inventory in your kitchen/pantry and get rid of breakfast cereals, white bread and products containing large amounts of sugar. Breakfast, dinner and supper should consist of meat (beef, fish, chicken, etc.). A meal should contain proteins and healthy fat.
In the fight against obesity among kids and young people, schools have a major role to play in the field of proper diet. The schools’ principal and teachers should check the inventory of food products available at the small shops at schools. Majority of these products so eagerly bought by the kids is the unhealthy food containing large amounts of carbohydrates that increase the sugar level in blood. In the mechanism described in the chapters above, it is the direct cause of obesity. While the obesity can lead to the development of type-2 diabetes among young people, which causes serious and long-term health complications of future generations.
Lets just think, as not much has to be done in order to achieve great results. The changes we have to introduce are not a revolution but an evolution. The method of small steps in changes of children’s diet will be the easiest to be introduced into their lives.
If we supplement our healthy food with physical exercises, then we have great chances for better life.
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