Know the causes of in childhood and how to overcome it

Whether we realize it or not, the risk of obesity increases with increasing access to fast food and poor nutritious food (junk food). Not only a food factor, there are still other factors that can make a child suffer from obesity and can cause health problems. Parents, know the facts and causes of child obesity here.

Based on the 2016 joint research report by UNICEF, WHO and ASEAN, Indonesia has the same percentage of children who are obese and malnourished children (12%).

Obesity in children occurs when their weight exceeds normal weight based on height. This condition is dangerous because it makes them at high risk of developing chronic diseases and stress.

Parents need to remember that obesity is different from being overweight. The diagnosis of obese children must be made very carefully. The doctor will measure the child's weight and height and calculate the body mass index (BMI). This result will be compared with the standard / normal value

Triggers obesity

Many factors can cause obesity. Some of them are interdependent, namely:

• Lifestyle. Unhealthy eating patterns with too many calories and not accompanied by active movements. Consuming foods high in saturated fat and sugar (such as ice cream, chocolate, candy), fast food or fast food groups, and non-alcoholic beverages will be the main cause of obesity. . Diet with the habit of sitting too long in front of a television screen or computer is the main cause of obesity among the younger generation.
• Genetic factors. Although this is not absolute, children with family members or elderly people who are obese are at a higher risk of obesity. In addition to heredity, it can also be caused by a child's diet and lifestyle, similar to his parents.
• Psychological factors Obesity is sometimes experienced by children or adolescents who make food as a way to escape their frustration or psychological distress during class, boredom, problems, and other emotional forms.

In addition to these factors, the practice of feeding infants and children who are not considered or still traditional, with low nutritious food choices, is also a factor among other contributors.
Complications due to obesity

Obesity can have an impact not only on health, but on the life of the child as a whole.

• Physical impact
  The following health problems can be triggered by obesity: 
•  Hypertension and high cholesterol. Both can cause plaques that cause narrowing of the arteries in children, which can trigger brain strokes and later heart attacks.
   
• Type 2 diabetes. An inactive lifestyle, linked to obesity, can trigger the risk of type 2 diabetes that affects glucose metabolism in a child's body.
   
• Respiratory disease. Excess weight in children can shrink, swell and swell the airways, making the respiratory system difficult to breathe, increasing the risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma.
   
• Sleep disturbance. Because of obesity, a child's breathing may become abnormal, such as snoring during sleep. The quality of a child's rest or sleep can decrease due to respiratory problems. This can lead to lower school results because children have difficulty concentrating in class and often sleep during the day. 
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD). Obesity can cause fat buildup that endangers the liver.
  Bone disorders that support overweight in the body.
  
  Social and emotional impact
  
   
• Behavioral disorders. Obese children tend to be more difficult to socialize and worry about other people's opinions about their weight.
  Not confident The body that is too heavy often makes someone unsure about the relationship
   
• Depression. Discomfort and trust make children vulnerable to depression.

How to diagnose obesity?

If you are worried that your child is obese, the first step is to seek medical help for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Before taking your child to your doctor, prepare the following:

• Write down complaints, behaviors, activities, and habits of toddlers that can cause obesity.
   
• Pay attention to the groups of food your child consumes in a week or the foods he often consumes. Also bring a note of drugs or vitamins that are commonly consumed.
   
• It's likely that the doctor will also ask questions about family daily activities and eating habits, as well as about the history of family members suffering from obesity. 

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a commonly used measure of whether a person's weight can be categorized as normal weight, normal weight, overweight or obese. BMI is measured by the weight of the formula (in kilograms) divided by the size of the square (in meters2).

For example, an 8-year-old boy weighing 50 kg and 1.2 meters high, BMI is:



50 kg / (1.20 m) 2 = 50 / 1.44 ≈ 34.7 kg / m2



Measurements based on your child's BMI will be compared with the BMI of other children of the same sex, age and height.

In addition to measuring a child's BMI, the doctor will check diet, activity level, history of family obesity, and other health problems.
Examination of blood sugar levels, cholesterol, hormone balance, vitamin D levels and examinations related to other obesity problems can also be done. Note that this blood test usually requires the child to fast for the previous 8-12 hours.
Accompany fat children

The solution to the problem of obese children rests on two things. The first is ensuring that children have adopted a healthy diet and invited them to do more regular physical activity so that their weight decreases. However, weight loss must be done in stages and it is recommended to ask your pediatrician first. Parents should know that in this process, the child's weight must be reduced from 0.5 to 0.9 kg in one month for severe obesity does not occur, and a week for severe cases, the following guidelines:

Talk about heart to heart

Weight loss is a sensitive topic, especially in teenagers. But not discussing it at all will put the child in a dangerous condition. Not only for health, but also psychologically. Here are some things that should be of concern to parents:

• Make sure the child knows that the process of managing a lifestyle that promotes weight loss will be a process that he will experience with you.
•  This is for good and long-term goals.
  Encourage children to talk openly about problems not related to food but that can cause obesity.
•  Always praise and show your support for each child's efforts and success. 

Healthy food

• As a parent, you play an important role in determining what and how children eat their food. Try replacing as many packaging products as possible with fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Limit the frequency of eating in restaurants, especially in fast food restaurants that offer many foods high in sugar and cholesterol.
• By cooking your own food, you can better control cholesterol and calories contained in foods eaten by children. Prioritize steaming or boiling in connection with frying.
• Avoid giving food as a gift or limiting food punishment.
• Take time to eat with your family as a fun and focused activity. Eating while watching TV can cause children to lose control of what they eat and how they eat.
• It is better to change healthy eating patterns in the long term rather than directly limiting all high-calorie foods. Changes in eating habits that are radically forced tend to not last long.
• For parents, set an example for children to live healthy and follow your healthy lifestyle and lifestyle.

Ask the children to move

• Physical activity does not always have to be an intense form of exercise. It would be easier to suggest physical activities he likes, such as jumping rope, cycling or other hobbies and sports he likes.
• Limit the amount of time children spend watching TV or playing games on a smartphone, tablet or computer, up to one hour per day for preschoolers.
• For older children, remind them to take a break from when they sit down to study or work on computer tasks while exercising. He can play basketball or soccer before returning to study.

Prevent obesity in children

Childhood obesity can be prevented. Parents can do the following to keep a child's body healthy and avoid obesity:

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle in your family. Plan to swim together every two weeks, picnic in the park, and cook healthy meals together.
• Give an example by practicing a healthy lifestyle in private, for example by not smoking, choosing healthy foods and exercising regularly.
• Consult your doctor regularly for calculating BMI to detect the risk of obesity, especially if your child seems overweight.
• Make sure your child has enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is a major factor in obesity and other health problems. Placing the TV outdoors can make children more comfortable and faster. The recommended sleep times for each age are as follows:

12-18 years: 8.5 hours a day.
5-12 years: 10 to 11 hours a day.
3-5 years: 11 to 13 hours a day.
1-3 years: 12 to 14 hours a day.

• Remind your child that you love him unconditionally, regardless of his body shape or what other people say about him. This will encourage the child to feel accepted and encourage him to be open-minded about all the problems he faces and can lead to obesity.

Overcoming obesity depends on the role and lifestyle of their parents. To encourage motivation and encourage children to live in good health, start with healthy parenting behaviors. Obese children look cute and adorable, but they can be dangerous if this condition causes illness later on, because obesity is not treated as soon as possible.

Obesity in children is a serious disease that can affect childhood and growth. This condition can also encourage children to have health problems in the future. Be sure to consult a doctor if your child needs special attention regarding weight.