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Emphasis on childhood obesity could lead to eating disorders
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New parents are often anxious to find out how much their baby has grown when they visit the doctor. The nurse might hand out a sticker to place in the baby book indicating how much the child has grown in height and weight.
But as children age, excess weight gain may cause parents to cringe as they wonder if their child is heading towards childhood obesity, or an excess of body fat. The Center for Disease Control states that a Body Mass Indicator (BMI) of 95% or higher is ample data to label the child overweight.
Childhood obesity can lead to health and well-being issues. This condition has become a serious health concern because of the rising numbers of overweight children. Overweight children can later develop life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease and even cancer.
Everywhere changes have occurred because of this worrisome dilemma. Schools are trying to eliminate unhealthy foods from lunches and discourage parents from sending sugary treats during parties. Restaurants have scaled back on portion sizes and begun offering healthier food choices on children's menus. Television shows geared to preschoolers and young children have incorporated physical activities into their shows. Many of the networks will sometimes not air shows for a few hours, and leave a message on the screen that invites the children to get outside and play.
With all of these stipulations being placed on food and body size, eating disorders may become a more increasing condition in younger children. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating are on the rise as children, especially girls, begin comparing themselves to the skinny models and movie stars on television. Eating disorders can be fatal and they are very difficult to recover from. Many who suffer from this onus spend the rest of their lives dealing with it.
Overweight children can begin to develop problems with self-esteem and body image. Parents who put young children on strict diets need to be careful as to how they approach their children. Placing emphasis on healthy eating habits and engaging in family physical activities together can address the problem in a positive way.
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