Scientific prevention keeps flowers away from baby fat

In recent years, with the development of my country's social economy and changes in lifestyle, the overweight and obesity rates among children have continued to rise. According to the "Report on the Dietary Nutrition and Chronic Disease Status of Chinese Residents (2020)", the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents under the age of 18 has risen to 29.4%, and most childhood obesity can continue into adulthood.

Obesity is associated with a variety of complications and has become one of the important public issues in my country. Obesity not only affects the appearance of the body, but more importantly, it can cause multi-system organ diseases throughout the body, seriously endangering health. Children are in an important period of growth and development, and the problem of obesity cannot be ignored!

How to determine whether a child is obese?

We can measure this using the following methods:

1. Body Mass Index (BMI)

In children ≥ 2 years, body mass index (BMI) is used to diagnose:

BMI=weight (kg)/height² (m²), which is related to body fat and is relatively unaffected by height.

2. Body composition measurement

Body fat content refers to the percentage of fat tissue in the body to body weight. It is a relatively intuitive indicator for determining obesity, but there is no unified standard. Commonly used body composition detection methods include dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, air displacement plethysmography, total body bioimpedance analysis, total body water markers, and magnetic resonance imaging.

3. Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio measurement

Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are important indicators for determining central obesity and can better predict the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other diseases. WHtR>0.48 for boys aged 6-15, WHtR>0.48 for girls aged 6-9, and WHtR>0.46 for women aged 10-15, increase the risk of metabolic diseases. Children with waist circumference ≥ P90 of waist circumference of children of the same age and gender are used as the screening threshold for high waist circumference, indicating that children may have central obesity.

What are the dangers of childhood obesity?

1. Affects height growth

Changes in bone age are closely related to estrogen. Obesity may pose a risk of excessive estrogen secretion, leading to accelerated bone age, which may ultimately affect adult height.

2. Early puberty

Currently, the incidence of precocious puberty in children is very high, especially in girls, who develop at an earlier age, which is closely related to obesity.

3. Increased risk of disease

Moderate to severe obesity can cause children to develop traditional "adult chronic diseases" such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and fatty liver.

4. Psychological problems

It is common for children to have psychological problems caused by obesity. Obese children are not confident about dressing, have low self-esteem, do not like socializing and outdoor sports, are afraid of being laughed at, and are overly concerned about their image. They also have abnormal behavior, personality defects, and difficulty in socializing, which will worsen with the degree and duration of obesity.

Image source: Pixabay

How to prevent childhood obesity?

1. Family atmosphere is important

First of all, we need to win the support of all family members, especially the elders who cook at home and spend more time with the children. Sometimes the softness of grandparents can become the biggest stumbling block for children to lose weight. Parents should set a good example by raising their own awareness, cooking and preparing a reasonable diet, and participating in more sports.

2. Drink boiled water and less sweet drinks

Obese children often like to drink sugary drinks. Sugary drinks such as cola and yogurt drinks are often high in calories, and excessive intake can lead to obesity. Therefore, drinking less or no sugary drinks is an important way to help children lose weight. In addition, pure milk cannot replace boiled water and should also be consumed in moderation.

3. Eat a balanced diet and eat regularly

Most obese children have an unbalanced diet, preferring meat, staple foods or snacks, and not taking in enough vegetables. Therefore, parents should cultivate good habits in their children. They should develop a fixed daily schedule and good hygiene habits. They should also have regular height and weight checks to correct problems in a timely manner.

4. Reduce sitting time and exercise more

School-age children and adolescents are under great pressure to study and spend too much time sitting at their desks every day. Long periods of sitting and lack of exercise can lead to obesity, decreased cardiopulmonary function, and other consequences. It is recommended that children and adolescents over the age of 6 should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to high intensity activities every day, mainly whole-body aerobic activities, including high intensity physical activities at least 3 days a week.

Preventing obesity requires the cooperation and efforts of the whole family, establishing good eating, exercise habits and lifestyles, correcting obesity problems in a timely manner, and constantly monitoring and adjusting. We hope that through our scientific prevention, the "flowers" of the motherland can stay away from "baby fat".

Source: Banan District Second People's Hospital

Author: Tu Xiuying

Review experts: Zhang Zhenghong, Du Guo

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