Guest Blogger: How to Stop Childhood Obesity by Stephanie Ingram

Obesity is a medical condition that refers to having too much body fat. You may be considered obese if you weigh 20% more than your normal weight range. Obesity is a global problem leading to numerous physical and psychological health issues. Weight is a very sensitive topic for people and becomes touchier if it’s more than desired.

Childhood Obesity Effects

Agility allows kids to exhibit their intelligence and enhance their learning. Look at the obesity matter from a child’s perspective. In our normal communication, we avoid everything that might hurt our child’s feelings. Doesn't obesity hurt the child's mind? Obesity is one of the least acceptable conditions in social life. It leaves children with low self-esteem and excludes them from a variety of playful activities. Their physical limitations keep them away from a number of normal activities and competitions, and don't allow them to build self-confidence for adulthood. Depression makes them introverted, which can lead to a decrease in academic performance. Apart from all of the psychological matters, obesity develops a lasting impact on physical health, including serious health conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, and high blood pressure. Shortened life span is one of the grave impacts of childhood obesity.

How to Stop Childhood Obesity

Primary preventions are needed to enhance the standard of life. As parents, it’s our duty to make positive changes in our children's lives to keep them active, healthy, playful and confident. It’s important to make positive choices for your family life and create an environment that makes those choices easy, natural and enjoyable.

Balanced diet is the foremost prerequisite to live an active and agile life. Avoid those quick breakfast fixes and unhealthy school lunches that may harm their eating habits in the long run, as well as their health. Processed and refined foods do harm by containing sugar, fats and excess calories. Homemade food items should be a priority from a very early age. Stop showing intimacy via sugary treats, fast foods and sweetened beverages. This is the unhealthiest attitude that may harm your child's eating habits for life.

Start making changes in your personal diet and begin workout habits to be a role model for your children. The good thing about dealing with obesity in childhood is that kids are playful by nature. You don’t have to compel them much in order to get them to move more. Create an interesting exercising program with your kids to burn more calories, enhance stamina and build muscles. Make them aware of healthy living and dietary habits.

Avoid using gadgets as much as possible, especially if they are used just for fun. Limit television time and social media networks on the Internet. Encourage physical activities as pastimes rather than video games. Get yourself involved in any kind of sports to hearten kids to do so, too. Ample parental supervision is imperative to understand the consequences of sedentary life and the value of healthy living.


Stephanie Ingram is a blogger, writer at Fitnessrepublic.com, enthusiast spending her efforts and time in learning, applying and writing articles on fitness, food and nutrition, Pilates, health care and green living. She is passionate about learning and sharing the ways to improve fitness and maintain optimal health in order to live an active life.