When compared to all the bygone decades, the last decade has seen an alarming increase in the number of cases of childhood obesity. Severe shortage of physical activities, consumption of junk foods and other environmental factors has lead to an increase in the number of obese children. Studies have also shown that unfit children grow up and become susceptible to a large number of diseases such as diabetes, heart ailments and weak bones. In order to lead a long and healthy life, it is important that children be taught the importance of the right food and fitness regimes so that they can grow up to be healthy adults. 

Parents need to take initiative 

Parents have to play a major role in instilling knowledge about the right food and fitness and the best way to do it is to lead by example. When your child watches you eat healthy food and workout regularly, he or she is more likely to become health conscious. It is not an easy job to restrain children from eating their favorite junk foods.

However, adopting certain techniques such as setting limits on consumption of unhealthy foods and encouraging children to participate in more physical activities such as sports can help a great deal in developing consciousness about food and fitness.

Schools play an even greater role than parents 

Children in the elementary stage age are greatly influenced by their school environments and teachers. By encouraging games and sports in school and providing healthy food at meal times, schools can develop good habits in children. In children of higher classes, schools can also organize regular seminars and lectures by specialists and arrange interactive sessions that will develop awareness about food and fitness. School canteens have to be devoid of fizzy drinks, colas and foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat content. Schools can also hold sessions for parents and guide them regarding how to instill good food and fitness habits in children.

Take children on outdoor trips 

Weekends can be utilized in a great way. Instead of letting your kids lounge in front of the television or be hooked on to the PlayStation all day long, you can take them out for sports, camping, picnics, trekking or hiking. Making them realize the joy of outdoor activities can be a great way to get them off their PlayStations and on to play grounds. Children who are active in the initial stages of their lives tend to follow healthy living practices all through.

Childhood obesity is one of the saddest things that can happen to a child that can take the whole fun of this beautiful time of life. Childhood obesity comes with integrated diseases that can affect the child now or even later.

These are the reasons why childhood obesity should be taken and stopped seriously. Sodexo is currently doing a thorough clean out of the preliminary ideas and functions of dietary regime in schools. While Sodexo packets arrive in school there will be no deliberate creeping of trans fats into any child’s mouth. They are coming with integrated plans on how to bring all of this into meals, snacks as well as through education and awareness brought into the minds of children.

One of the most important steps Sodexo is taking here is by incorporating classes that bring the true value and appreciation of good nutrition in children’s knowledge. With this in their hands they can then go about to make wise decisions in their lives. Sodexo believes that the right nutrition combined with perfect activity is going to make healthy children and later healthier generations.

According to the recent study, 59 percent of the American babies, up to six month old, are overweight than the babies, who were born twenty years ago.

Thought the heavy babies look cute and healthier but parents should take measures to prevent obesity at the initial days of the babies’ life, warning issued by health experts. So the matter of concern is not only the infant weights but it also includes the weight of mother and her weight gain during the course of pregnancy.

“More weight gain of mother during pregnancy than the recommended has been associated with the high odds of childhood obesity.” Dr. Christine M. Olson said.

Olson followed the 208 pregnant women and found that extra weight gain, from 25 to 35 pounds, during pregnancy, increases the risk of obesity in children at the age of three.

In the women who gained weight during the early pregnancy, the forty percent of the children get obese at the age of three and just 24 percent born with the normal weight gain during pregnancy. The risk was ever highest with the women who were overweight before the conception.

“Indeed obese or overweight mothers normally have overweight neonates. Gestational diabetes is also a risk factor for the childhood obesity. Even the health of father helps to predict that either the baby should be overweight or not,” Dr. Frank R. Greer, a professor of pediatrics said.