Weight Loss - Child Obesity

The latest statistics has shown that the child obesity is reaching an epidemic proportions with in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Child Obesity is medically far more serious than most parents realise. Obesity in children is dangerous and will only show its effects later on in their adulthood. Latest research has linked a large number of common adulthood diseases to child obesity.

What causes child obesity?

With the rare exception of a medical condition, the child obesity is the result of poor family diet and not performing any specific weight loss exercise. It is a known fact that the parents who ignore weight loss and obesity also have obese children. This is because the children often eat exactly the same food as the parents. The consequences of which are far more serious than just being over weight! Research has also linked diseases such as Osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease etc. to child obesity.

So what are the most common causes of child obesity?

As with any adult the cause of child obesity is quite often due to poor diet and a lack of exercise. From a psychological point of view, the children tend to get easily distracted by external influences, which stops them from being physically active. The most common of these external distractions are:

The Video and Computer games.
The TV.
The Internet.
Focusing too much on academic achievements and not enough on physical activities.
Not having friends to play with.
Worrying about other kids making fun of them, or being bullied.

The habitsand lifestyles of the parents are the most important factors in Childhood obesity, but, the external influences listed above also play a big part in the equation.

How to address child obesity?

Before you dictate one rule for the children and another for the parents it is important that you understand that children almost always follow the eating habits and the life styles of their parents. So, in order to help your children, you must first change your own life style.

You could consider following our Weight loss Diet to help you and your children (please consult your doctor before following any diet).
Draw up a "Exercise" timetable for the children. Children are normally used to following a routine (such as going to a specific class on a specific day). Therefore they are more likely to follow a routine with a fixed timetable than one which is ad-hoc.
The child must choose a specific sport or exercise to do, for at least an hour every night before dinner. This will raise the child's metabolic rate before dinner.

Children & Obesity

In simple terms, obesity is caused when the body stores excessive calories. Obesity in civilized countries is reaching epidemic proportions. What is worrying is that the children too are now more obese than ever before in the history of man kind!

Child Obesity and Weight Loss

Calories and Weight Loss

Weight loss depends on the amount of calorie intake. Calories are used by the body to perform its day-to-day functions. However, when the calories taken in is greater than the energy burnt, then the excess calories are stored as fat. The most common reasons for excessive consumption of calories are:

Psychological
Emotional
Lack of knowledge
Habit

calories and weight loss

Weight loss plans

There are a number of VERY dangerous diet plans used to target weight loss. A dangerous, or misleading, diet is one which provides "rapid" result. Remember, in order for a diet to be effective and safe, your body needs time to adjust to the change in your lifestyle. This is because rapid dieting will almost always have health consequences, and in fact research has also shown that as soon as your body adjusts to the diet, you will start to put on weight at even a higher rate than before.

Weight loss diet

Weight Loss plans to be avoided

For legal reasons we are unable to actually name dangerous or misleading weight loss diets, however, the following is a list which should help you identify these diets for yourself.

Any diet that cuts out any essential food groups (Specially carbohydrates!)
Any diet that promises or guarantees fast result
Any diet that involves you drinking only liquid food.
Any diet that involves you buying processed and ready made "food substitutes".

Weight loss diets

Diet

The food you eat is the single most important factor in your weight loss program. Weight loss is only achieved through a healthy diet.

Weight loss diet and health

Exercise

Exercise is vital not only to a safe weight loss plan, but, is also crucial to the general operation and well being of the human body.

Weight loss exercise

Measuring Body Fat

Measuring the Body Fat is a much more accurate way of measuring how your weight loss program is going than using a bathroom scale. The bathroom scales are highly misleading!

Measure Body Fat

Swimming

Swimming is a VERY effective and safe way of burning calories. Its one of the safest ways of exercising as you do not put any excessive force on the joints.

Swimming

Walking

Walking is one of the safest form of exercise as you burn those calories without excessive wear and tear on the joints.

Walking

Pilates and Yoga

Pilates and Yoga are important to any weight loss program as they both encourage good body posture and alignment.

Pilates