Overweight and Obesity: What It Is?
Overweight and obesity are a heterogeneous condition that has reached epidemic proportions and this particulièremenr child. The medical and scientific community is confronted with a challenge which is to curb the phenomenal growth of obesity and its complications in our population. The below image shows the trends of obesity among children and adolescents in the United States.
Overweight and obesity recognized as a risk factor for many health problems, including hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, arthritis, and some forms of cancer.
A call for concerted action is initiated to better identify not only the biological but also social and environmental responsibility for the overweight and obesity epidemic, both in adults and children. We need to undertake large surveillance studies to better assess the health of our population and studies of prevention and long-term treatment intervention that go well beyond our traditional approaches.
In many countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults is becoming a serious public health problem.
How to preventing overweight and obesity in children?
The prevention of childhood overweight and obesity involves the acquisition of “good habits” that affect both the child and his family:
- Breastfeeding is recommended. Besides its nutritional qualities, it would reduce the risk of overweight and obesity in children.
- Only give milk until six months (breast milk or infants).
- Diversify food, preferably from six months, and gradually, stimulating the taste of your child with a variety of foods. Before age two, children are curious about new tastes and readily accept live it for him to discover a taste of something different.
- Adopt a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
- Limit sedentary activities.
Overweight and obesity in children must be treated early. Indeed, 30-50% of cases of overweight and obesity in children and up to 80% in adolescents persist into adulthood. More support is earlier and its treatment will be easy and short.
In children, two simple steps can avoid falling into a situation of overweight and obesity: Re-balance, monitor eating patterns, and reduce physical inactivity.
Managing Physical Activity To Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Children
Physical activity, along with a diet in line with age is an essential part of the management of overweight and obesity. Indeed, results in physical activity year expenditure of energy will play an important role in the balance between muscle and fat mass.
Among overweight children, the practice of physical activity regularly recommended is 2 to 3 times a week. Then gradually every day.
Good To Know:
- For your child to choose activities of moderate-intensity (it is slightly out of breath but can still talk) he practiced for at least 20 minutes.
- Use your child as possible, and a good step, let him take the stairs INSTEAD of elevators.
- Choose activities for your child that appeal.
- Think of games that are easy to practice (ball games, cycling, outdoor games).
- Remember to be active yourself: children love to emulate their parents.
- Ideally, children should perform at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
Prevention of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults
In adults, prevention is particularly aimed at individuals at high risk of weight status in promoting weight gain, gaining weight too fast, and finally to subjects with provisions to weight gain.
The simplest measure to prevent excess weight is to weigh themselves regularly. A balanced diet is essential to prevention. To do this, it is important to take meals at fixed times, to emphasize the variety of foods, avoid snacking, to respect the recommendations of PNNS, and finally to eat in peace.
Finally, we should practice regular physical activity. Exercise speeds up metabolism and burns more calories furthermore can help to lose weight naturally. Moreover, sport can build muscle mass and narrow silhouette.
The Prevention of Overweight and Obesity In Schools
Here are some of the efforts which can be done to preventing overweight and obesity among the students:
1) Ban food distributors
The vending machines for drinks and food available for students pay and are forbidden in schools since September 1, 2005, pursuant to Article 30 of Law No. 2004-806 of August 9, 2004, on policy public health. However, schools are encouraged to install in conjunction with local authorities, chilled water fountains.
2) Promoting physical activity
The prevention of overweight and obesity involves learning about energy intake and expenditure. Under the World Health Organization (WHO), the school promotes physical activity and sport. Physical education and sports (EPS) play on this essential.
3) Recommendations for snacks
The morning snack at school is so systematic or mandatory. It is not justified for students who took breakfast before coming to school. However, teachers may set up a snack to suit specific situations. In this case, the collation must involve at least two hours before breakfast. Drinks or food offered to students must allow a diverse food supply by focusing on water, fruit juices without added sugar, milk or semi-skimmed milk products, bread, unsweetened cereals.
Other moments in the life of the school is the opportunity to bring additional food: birthday parties, Christmas or New Year, etc.. These festive events offer a moment of conviviality, sharing and pleasure can not be ignored. However, it is desirable not to multiply them together in order to avoid excessive caloric intake. If not, preventing overweight and obesity campaign is useless.