In a lot of western societies, people are generally getting fatter. Diet books and fitness gear are in high demand as a result. However, despite the fact that the majority of us are aware that it would be beneficial to lose some weight, we are only vaguely aware of the alarming levels of "obesity" in our societies. Even less are we aware of the consequences for our children and the widespread problem of childhood obesity.
What exactly is obesity?
In general, a person is said to be "obese" if the amount of fat he has stored in his body puts his health in danger. The following are some recent OECD statistics that demonstrate the extent of the obesity problem:
Obese people over the age of 15 make up 30.6% of the population in the United States, 24.2% in Mexico, 22.4% in the United Kingdom, 21.7% in Australia, 17% in New Zealand, 14.9% in Canada, 12.9% in Germany, and 9.4% in France. In other words, almost 1 in 3 Americans and roughly 1 in 5 Australians are so grossly overweight that they have health issues as a result.
**Causes of Obesity** We humans have a propensity to justify our propensity to be overweight or obese. We frequently attribute obesity to factors such as glandular imbalance or heredity; despite the fact that these factors frequently do have an impact, the primary cause of the majority of obesity is quite straightforward. An individual puts on weight when the person consumes a larger number of calories than they consume.
To put it another way, diet and activity level are two crucial aspects. Additionally, it should come as no surprise that both are being affected in nations with high rates of obesity. People are generally becoming more sedentary and getting less physical exercise, sitting in front of computers all day and in front of television all night, and Western diets are oozing with more fat and sugar than ever before.
**Consequences of an Obese Lifestyle] Worldwide, obesity has surpassed infectious diseases as the leading cause of illness.
Sickness, for example, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obstructive rest apnea, asthma, coronary illness, stroke, back and lower limit weight-bearing degenerative issues, specific sorts of disease, and wretchedness, have been ascribed to heftiness.
In point of fact, it has been estimated that a lack of physical activity and a poor diet now account for approximately 500,000 deaths annually. Obesity will likely surpass tobacco as the most common cause of death that can be avoided if this trend toward obesity is not reversed within the next few years.
Even more concerning is the fact that adults who lead an obese lifestyle are more likely to pass on their unhealthy eating and physical activity habits to their children. Children's obesity has skyrocketed as a result of this.
**Child obesity** In many nations, childhood obesity is now commonplace. For instance, it is estimated that the prevalence of obesity among adults and children in the United States has increased by more than 30% in just the past decade.
It's easy to see why. The obese lifestyle is taught to children from every angle. In lieu of regular, well-balanced meals, many families have turned to high-fat, high-sugar junk food and soft drinks. Or they have simply stopped making meals at home; between 1977 and 1996, nearly 300 percent of children's meals came from restaurants and fast food chains.
A constant stream of advertisements promoting highly processed junk food also targets children. Additionally, sedentary activities like playing video games or watching television have often replaced the normal physical activity that has been a part of childhood for many generations due to safety concerns.
**The negative effects of childhood obesity** Being overweight is never a good thing. However, childhood obesity is particularly harmful. Normal dieting and increased physical activity cannot get rid of fat cells once they have formed in the body.As a result, obesity typically persists into adulthood for obese children.
Then again, in the event that a kid learns positive routines for diet and exercise as youngsters, they will probably convey these propensities and this information into adulthood too.
What Can Be Done to Reduce Childhood Obesity?
Teaching responsible alternatives to the obese lifestyle is the responsibility of parents and other adults. Before they can make changes that will have a positive effect on their children for the rest of their lives, parents must first become aware of the issues with their own and their family's eating habits and levels of physical activity.
The "AKA" method, which stands for "AWARENESS of the problem," is one method that works well. KNOWLEDGE of what to do about it and the steps to change one's lifestyleAs you devise a strategy for a more healthy way of life for your entire family, your children will adore the attention you give them because they have an innate thirst for knowledge and a strong desire to improve their self-image.
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