How can childhood overweight and obesity be avoided?

In many areas of the world it has always been thought that a chubby child – especially if it is a baby – is a healthy child. However, behind this widespread and apparently harmless cultural belief, serious health problems can be hidden in the little ones. In fact, and as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), childhood overweight and obesity are some of the most serious problems facing international society in the 21st century.

Excess fat and lack of exercise

Although both childhood overweight and obesity can be caused by some type of endocrine genetic pathology, in most cases it is caused by various genetic factors – children with obese parents have a higher risk of suffering from it – psychological – food can work as an escape route to boredom or emotional- and environmental problems.

The latter are considered the most decisive and, at the same time, the ones that can be treated more easily to control the problem, since they have their origin in a change in customs and attitudes.

On the one hand, there is the alteration of the basic diet of children, which now appears on many occasions saturated with fats and sugars and industrial foods and lacking in fruits and vegetables. And, on the other hand, the little ones lead an increasingly sedentary life, even during their leisure time, in which sports and outdoor play have changed for activities they carry out sitting down and indoors.

Bet on natural and balanced diets

Thus, both the WHO itself and different associations of doctors and professionals specialized in child health recommend that parents and other adults in the environment close to children – family members, educators, etc. – follow relatively simple guidelines:

• Change the type of diet of the little ones preparing varied and healthy dishes.
• If the child eats away from home, make sure that the menu served complies with the premises established by endocrinologists regarding a healthy and balanced diet. You also have to complete it with meals made at home and include all kinds of vegetables, legumes, cereals and fish in the diet.
• Replace industrial pastries or pre-made products in breakfasts and snacks with fruits of all kinds, small sandwiches and, occasionally, with handmade sweets.
• Avoid carbonated and sweetened beverages and go for natural juices and smoothies.
• Change your leisure habits and motivate you to increase your outdoor activities and do all kinds of exercises and sports – walking, cycling, skating, etc.