Overweight and obese children are a growing concern not only in Vietnam but also around the world. From the cause, Signs of harm and diagnosis, DinoGPT's following article will provide a comprehensive view to help parents effectively prevent diseases for their babies.
What is obesity??
Obesity is a phenomenon in which the body accumulates excessive and abnormal fat in one area of the body or the whole body, causing negative effects on health.. This condition is becoming more common in children and can occur even in infancy.
Classified overweight and obesity are classified by BMI. Body mass index is calculated based on height and body weight. Body mass index (BMI) will be calculated according to the formula: body weight of 1 người (calculated in kg) Divide by height squared (measured in meters).
Based on WHO growth standards table, for children under 60 months of age, BMI ≥ 3SD is classified as obese. For children above 60 month old BMI ≥ 2SD will be obese.
Causes of obesity in children
Improper nutrition
Unbalanced nutrition is one of the leading causes of obesity in children. Excessive consumption of fast foods, Fried foods and foods high in sugar will lead to excess calories, increases the risk of obesity.
Besides, The concept of the ancients "eating as much as possible" is also a contributing factor to this situation. Excess nutrients are converted into excess fat and concentrated in many parts of the body such as the abdomen, tay, foot, face, neck,….
Sedentary
This is one of the common causes of childhood obesity today, especially in urban areas where there is little space for children to exercise. In addition, the appearance of modern technological devices also makes children dependent and become lazy.
Pressure, căng thẳng, psychological damage
Pressure, Stress and psychological trauma can increase the risk of obesity in children. The family has a stressful environment, Parents who often have conflicts or put pressure on their children to study can lead to the habit of overeating to reduce the child's stress..
Yếu tố khác: Hereditary, pathology,…
Genetic factors are also a factor in childhood obesity. Research shows that children have family members like their father, Mom,.. If you are obese, you have a higher risk of getting this condition again.
Other factors include bad habits, endocrine disease, brain damage, Using drugs can increase the risk of obesity in children. Understanding these factors is the key to building an effective strategy for controlling and preventing childhood obesity..
Signs of obesity in children
Signs of childhood obesity include::
- Excess BMI 20% compared to standard levels.
- Fat accumulates a lot in the abdomen, chin, chest, arm, and thighs.
- Obese children often have difficulty moving due to pressure from excessive fat on muscles and joints.
- Abnormal eating habits include a constant feeling of hunger, Appetite and consume larger amounts of food than other children of the same age.
- Đặc biệt trẻ em béo phì thường ưa thích đồ ngọt, bánh kẹo và thức ăn nhanh, ăn với số lượng quá mức. Ngược lại chúng có thể từ chối hoặc ít tiêu thụ rau củ.
Tác hại của bệnh béo phì ở trẻ
Obesity in children not only affects appearance but also brings many serious harms to health and comprehensive development.. Let's learn about the harmful effects that obesity causes to children:
- Cardiovascular disease: Obesity is one of the causes of increased blood fat, can lead to increased blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident and stroke.
- Type diabetes 2: Obese children are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes 2 due to impaired glucose metabolism, cause damage to the eyes, nervous and kidney functions.
- Gallstones: Increased risk of gallstone disease, especially in the abdominal area, can cause many other health problems.
- Cancer: Risk of cancer types such as breast, gallbladder, cervix increases significantly.
- Arthritis and gout: Obesity causes joint problems such as degeneration, arthritis, and can lead to gout.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Obese children are at high risk of fatty liver disease, affects liver function and can cause liver swelling.
- Asthma: Obesity increases the risk of asthma, causing difficulty in breathing.
- Skin diseases: Obese children may face skin problems such as acne, rashes and other skin conditions.
- Risk of accident and disability: The body is heavy and difficult to move, making obese children more likely to have accidents and difficult to recover after surgery.
- Risk of sleep apnea: Some obese children may face life-threatening sleep apnea.
How to diagnose obesity in children
Obese children are often diagnosed based on BMI according to age and according to the child's growth chart.
Your doctor may perform tests such as cholesterol tests, blood sugar or blood to evaluate the child's condition and obesity level.
Besides, information about history of obesity, thói quen ăn uống, chế độ sinh hoạt, The child's physical activity and psychological health status are also collected to have a comprehensive view of the child's health.
How to treat obesity in children
What to do with obese children??
Build a reasonable nutritional regimen
Children need to change their nutritional regimen to effectively control weight and ensure comprehensive development. Parents should feed their babies enough protein, road, fat, vitamins and minerals from green vegetables, fruit, yogurt.
Limit foods high in energy such as fats, road, sweet confectionery, fast food to avoid other health problems.
Regularly exercise healthily
Obese children should increase daily physical activity. Parents should guide their children to do activities such as jumping rope, jogging or swimming (at least 60 minutes every day) Helps burn fat and maintain health. Start at a mild level and gradually increase with supervision from relatives.
Drug treatment
In some cases, Oral medications can be used to treat childhood obesity, especially when nutrition and exercise are not effective. However, This usually requires supervision and direction from a doctor.
Multi-disciplinary intervention
For cases of severe obesity in children, may require the intervention of multiple specialists including a physician, nutritionist, psychological counselor and physical counselor.
A combination of measures aimed at changing behavior and cognition, Along with diet and exercise solutions will bring the best results.
Attention, Do not apply excessive diets or take medications to lose weight, but must have a reasonable diet, Obese children should not cut off milk but need to change the appropriate type of milk because milk is still a very necessary food for children's development..
You should choose low-energy milks, unsweetened milk, defatted, milk for overweight and obese children, about 400ml - 500ml per day according to recommended needs of age.
Prevention of obesity in children
Tỉnh trạng trẻ em béo phì hoàn toàn có thể được ngăn chặn thông qua các biện pháp dự phòng hiệu quả. Cha mẹ cần theo dõi cân nặng và chiều cao của trẻ mỗi tháng hay mỗi quý để kiểm soát việc tăng cân, tăng chiều cao sao cho phù hợp với các giai đoạn phát triển của con.
Bố mẹ cần chủ động thực hiện những biện pháp sau:
- Infants (Newborn and under 6 month old): Should be exclusively breastfed or combined with formula milk to strengthen resistance and immune system, reduces the risk of obesity and protects children from many other diseases.
- Young 1-5 tuổi: Make sure children get enough nutrients from food, Increase outdoor activities. Sunbathe properly to supplement vitamin D, reduce the risk of rickets.
- Young 6-12 tuổi: You should eat lots of green vegetables and fruits, Replace unhealthy foods with foods rich in fiber and nutrients. Participating in sports helps improve health and develop height.
- Young 13-18 tuổi: Prevent childhood obesity by choosing scientific foods: Ensure a balanced and nutritious diet from all food groups. In addition, parents and schools should guide children to perform regular physical activities every day. Do not play games/watch TV during meals, Increase focus on eating; Going to bed early helps the body recover and ensure overall health.
Facing the current increasing situation of childhood obesity, Early diagnosis and effective intervention play a very important role. From the beginning, parents should make positive lifestyle and nutrition changes for their baby.
The article was evaluated by TS.BS. Duong Lan Dung – Deputy Head of Training Department, Former Deputy Head of Science Research Department – National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
