Being aware of the reasons for childhood obesity is a good idea for any parent. It is only when you recognize the true causes of this condition that you can truly work toward fixing it. Discounting the problem will not make it go away. And when a youngster grows up overweight or obese it's that much more difficult to keep the weight under control as an adult. So, what are the common causes of childhood obesity and what may a family do to come to grips with these causes?
Consider the typical lifestyle that many people lead today and you will get your first clue as to the normal causes of childhood obesity. Youngsters just don't go out of doors and have fun anymore. They usually spend their spare time playing video games or computer games or watching the television set. Physical inactivity is one of the causes of childhood obesity. The body must burn the calories it ingests from eating. Any extra calories not burned off are stored as fat.
Today people also typically drive everywhere rather than walk. Children take the bus to school and are often driven to the bus stop itself. They're carried to their friend's house and to the corner store. And when it's time to do jobs around the house we have alot of labor-saving devices that restrict physical activity as well. Power lawn mowers, snow blowers, and leaf blowers mean that even when performing work around the house there is very little exertion expended. All of this inactivity and lack of physical exertion is another part of those causes of childhood obesity.
The diet that many people follow is another part of those causes of childhood obesity. Most food that people take in is very unhealthy. It's commonly prepared with added oil, butter, and sugar to enhance the flavor. Unfortunately, this also enhances the calorie count! Fast food and junk food are two prime culprits. Hamburgers, fries, potato chips, and items like these are very caloriedense meaning they have a lot of calories for the amount of food you get. Fast food restaurants are decidedly a large part of the common causes of childhood obesity! Included in this are the many vending machines that are just about everywhere, including the schools. Nearly all of their offerings contain sugary foods and sodas. It's not unusual for kids to eat literally thousands and thousands of excess calories weekly. This, even if it doesn't appear as if anyone is overeating.
These common causes of childhood obesity can be treated by any prudent parent. There's no need to go to extremes and expect your child to become a star athlete or to never have a hamburger again. But being balanced and moderate can go a long way in this regard. Treating these causes of childhood obesity may be as simple as walking after dinner as a family or taking a bike ride on a regular basis. Provide healthy and nourishing foods at home to balance out the excessive calories children consume when on their own, and your child should maintain a healthy weight.
Author Resource:
For a free guide to healthful cooking, visit Facts About Childhood Obesity . For more information about some of the causes of childhood obesity visit Facts About Childhood Obesity .
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