Reducing childhood obesity

There is a common misconception among urban parents that the more food their children eat, the healthier they will be. Recent investigations on urban health behaviour and its consequences reveal that there has been an increase in childhood obesity among urban children. About one-quarter of urban children in Bangladesh are now overweight or obese who are more likely to become overweight adults. Encouraging your child to eat healthy food and be physically active can ensure a healthy future. It can be a challenge and requires patience, positivism, practice and time. Children have different body shapes and sizes at different ages, so it can be difficult to tell if a child is overweight and our view of what is 'normal' can also change. But the family doctor, or an experienced health professional will be able to give the right feedback on a child's growth. Children become overweight when the energy they 'take in' (through food and drink) is greater than the energy they 'burn' (through physical activity and exercise). A diet high in energy and fat, combined with low levels of physical activity and exercise, will lead to a person becoming overweight. Children inherit body type and shape from their parents. You cannot change these factors but you can influence your child's eating habits and activity patterns, which will also affect their body weight. Children who continue to be overweight into adulthood are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, joint problems, breathing problems, and some forms of cancer. The best way to maintain your child's health is to create in him some healthy habits. Teach him what to eat and how much. The most important thing, beside healthy eating habits, is to provide him opportunities to participate in some sporting activities. A healthy diet refers to not only the type of food your child eats but also the amount of food they eat. All children should eat regularly, including healthy snacks. To encourage healthy changes to your child's eating habits, keep offering healthy foods even if they are refused at first; include your child's food choices in the family menu sometimes; act as a role model and make sure your child sees you eating healthy foods; involve children in simple food preparation such as making a salad; and let your child decide if they have had enough, even if food is left over on their plate. This encourages children to better understand feelings of hunger and fullness. These habits may help to control appetite and prevent overeating as they grow. In addition, encourage a slow eating habit, which helps proper digestion of food, if yours is a family of fast eaters. Help your child recognise if he or she eats when bored, sad or lonely. Try to suggest another activity to help distract them. Try not to punish, reward or cheer your child up with food. It can be tempting to use food this way sometimes, but it establishes an unhealthy relationship with food. The writer is a management trainee at Eminence