Childhood obesity affects children and teens and can cause many medical conditions that follow those children through life. More children and teens today are diagnosed with formerly adult conditions such as hypertension, or high blood pressure, and diabetes than any other generation, according to the Mayo Clinic. The reasons behind the rising number of overweight or obese children and teens are everyone's responsibility, from parents to physicians.
Not Enough Exercise
Many children and teens spend much of their free time playing video games rather than playing outdoor games that past generations of kids used to enjoy. Too little exercise is the main cause of childhood obesity, warns the Mayo Clinic. The allure of TV and video games prompts more children to choose such sedentary activities in their free time than organizing team sports or playing outside. Schools cutting back on regular physical exercise periods might also be a contributing factor to weight increase, especially in elementary school children.
Eating Too Much
Eating more high-calorie and high-fat foods is also a major contributing factor to childhood obesity. Today, with fast-food restaurants and many school cafeterias offering unnutritional offerings, children aren't getting enough of the basic food groups, such fresh fruits and vegetables. Vending machines at schools, businesses and hospitals offer low nutrition and high-calorie foods, according to Net Wellness Consumer Health Information, resulting in over-abundance of candy bars, soft drinks, chips and other high-fat content snack foods rather than balanced, nutritional meals.
Large Portions
Sit down at any restaurant and you're likely to be served a loaded plate with over-size portions of potatoes and main course selections, according to Net Wellness Consumer Health Information. Most servings of carbohydrates and proteins found in starchy foods and meats are twice the size they should be. For example, a portion of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards, or between 3 to 4 oz., according to Nutrition.GetFit.com, while servings in restaurants are often twice that.
Boredom
Many children eat snacks or overeat at meals out of boredom or because of stress. Eating when you're not hungry adds to the intake of daily calories, which must be burned off or be stored in the body as excess fat. Encourage activity and exercise for your children to help burn off calories consumed through the day and to help prevent your child from becoming overweight.
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