Lately the worldwide problem of child obesity is more and more prominent in all the news media. Obesity in a child can aggravate the risk for more child health issues like diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, skeletal disorders, sleep problems, psychological problems and symptoms and gastro-intestinal spasms. Such disorders can be expected to continue into adulthood. Research has unfortunately shown that obese children has a much higher risk than other people to turn into obese adults.

Despite all the above, it is possible for parents to make a positive impact on the lifestyle of their offspring and give them the guidance that will ensure a happy and healthy adulthood.

What role can parents play to have a positive impact on obesity amongst children? Parents must address the causes of child obesity. Parents must pay attention to their kids and help them to feel that they belong and that they are in a secure environment. If your child is neglected by you there is an increased possibility of obesity compared to other children. Be sure not to force your kids to eat more than they feel like at mealtime, you will train your child’s metabolism to function at a higher level than what would be healthy for the child.

Do not emphasize too much the amount of food eaten. It is much more important that the child must eat healthy food and then also get sufficient exercise to burn of the calories. Your kid will acquire abnormal eating behaviours if you are going to be constantly fussing about food intake.

Your child should not spend so much time in front of the telly. You will find that his or her weight is almost directly proportional to the time sitting motionless in front of the tv, watching television is obviously going to reduce physical activities by the child, it then consequently also reduces the metabolism of the body. The junk food commercials on television also affects children, they are encouraged to eat more junk food and drink beverages with high levels of sugar leading to increased weight problems for the kid.

If you are thinking that your child weighs more than his or her ideal weight and that there is a risk of obesity, consult with a physician as soon as you can, to ensure that obesity is halted quickly and effectively. It is a myth that mothers to be have to eat for two people, too much food while you are pregnant just dramatically increases the possibility that both you and your unborn child will in future become obese. The young infant must be breastfeeded for at least one year. With your infant still very young, a greater emphasis should be on fruits, grains and other fresh produce while closely watching to see if the child is really hungry before being fed.

If the risk that your child will become obese is high, you should consider using fat free milk instead of full cream milk. Avoid cane sugar and snacks that contain excessive fat, because they are very high in calories. If your kid is still at school, put in place steadfast rules as to how much they are allowed to watch television, snacks may only be of the healthy variety, food treats will be allowed only occasionally and generally good food habits must be maintained.

The child obesity epidemic is not static, it increases with each year that passes and, since 1981, there has been a dangerously high increase. The childhood obesity epidemic will pose a huge threat to the future of our children and their children, it is now the time to stop it on a globewide scale.