Health and Beauty Les Halles

The percentage of obese or overweight children in America has roughly doubled between 1971 and 2000. The prevalence of overweight and obese children has increased from 15% in 1971 to more than 30% in 2000.

Health problems increase with obesity on a rise. Obesity among children is a health crisis in the United States and a terrifying reality. Some experts claim that if something is not done to stop childhood obesity immediately we will witness a whole generation becoming twice as heavy as its parents and grandparents were, with this gain of weight other health risks are becoming more and more evident and have a huge effect on larger groups.

So what should we as parents do?

It would be unrealistic to think of eliminating television from your child’s life, though this is a popular concept. There are many programs on television these days that are beneficial to your child’s development. According to many reports watching television is the most engaging activity, except sleeping, for many kids. Although, as a result, kids who spend more time watching television also eat more of the low-nutrient and calorie-dense foods.

Any outdoor activity that is fun will teach a young child to love and appreciate what lies outside the 40″ Sony television set. It has also been found that children who watch more than five hours of television a day are almost five times more likely to be overweight than children who watch two hours or less – with excessive TV viewing considered to contribute to 60 percent of the risk of obesity in children.

Parents can set a good example by providing healthy meals and not eating junk food themselves, but it’s important to allow some treats, as being over strict is likely to cause friction and could be counterproductive.

It is clear that any long-term solution for obese or overweight children in America must be fought on four major fronts: physical activity, sedentary behavior, socioeconomic status, and eating habits. This is easier said than done; especially when emotional eating or an unobserved food addiction may fuel adverse eating habits.

Children’s lifestyles are generally a reflection of those who raise them so parents need to figure heavily in any strategies put forward to improve the health and well being of the next generation.

Obesity Causes and Affects

Today obesity is becoming a serious problem all over the world. besity can be a result of a whole host of aspects – from lifestyle to genetics, but usually it is caused by consuming more calories than necessary, which allows the body to store the left over calories that turn into fat. Obesity can also be caused by hormones and the environment in which we live, it is hard to tell exactly where it comes from because everyone is different, but being obese can truly affect your life and the way you think and how you feel. Obesity can result in a feeling of fatigue, a constant tiredness that you cannot seem to shake, low self-esteem, and a wide variety of medical problems are all associated with obesity. Sometimes it can be as simple as eating healthy and exercising more often, but for some it is not so easy, some find that surgery is the best answer to their problems especially when the obesity is caused by a genetic disorder or hormones.

Obesity Prevention and Other Information

A good way to prevent obesity is by finding an activity that you enjoy, such as biking, walking, hiking, swimming, any of these types of activities can be a great choice. Obesity is common among children especially in the US, which is why it is a good idea to have you children practice good eating habits, and do not forget to practice these same habits yourself because you are not only affecting your body but you are influencing your children. Children who have obese parents are more likely to be obese than children who have parents that have healthy eating habits. So in order to prevent obesity in your children have them eat healthy snacks after school instead of junk foods, and try to decrease the amount of take out you have in a month. Most people feel that they do not have enough time to cook a meal which can result in the quick fix of picking something up at the local fast food restaurant, but this is one of the worst things to do, taking the time to sit and have a home-cooked meal can make a big difference in your health.

Another good idea, is to never eat while watching television, because so many do not realize how much they actually consume during their favorite tv show, if you are going to snack try snacking on something healthy with a low amount of calories. You should also cut down on beverages that are high in sugar, try drinking a lot of water, it will make you feel full and it can make you feel all around better. Green tea is another good choice for beverages, it is good both cold and hot, and it is said to even help with weight loss. But for some this is not nearly enough, if the obesity is caused by a genetic disorder, this can be far worse because they cannot control the weight gain, it is simply something that just happens no matter how many calories they eat. For this type of obesity surgery such as gastric bypass, is usually a good idea to protect the health of the patient, if this goes unattended it can result in high cholesterol, and heart conditions.

Obesity is something that should not be taken lightly, it is no different from any other medical condition, but there are steps you can take to prevent it, so watch what you eat and talk to your doctor if you feel you are becoming overweight, it could be something connected to medical problems like thyroid disorders that can cause dramatic weight gain, and this problem can be easily fixed by the use of medicines or simple procedures. Obesity is a serious condition that can lead to many medical and emotional problems, and in some cases even early death by heart attack. So do not forget to take proper care of your body, and do not be afraid to take the necessary steps to bring you to a happier, healthier lifestyle.

The relationship between obesity and illness in adults has been shown to be a worldwide epidemic.  Obesity and illness can be seen around the globe.  Being overweight can effect anyone from any walk of life – men or women, rich or poor, adult or child.  No one is immune from this “disease” and the more you educate yourself about the problem of obesity the better your chances of avoiding falling victim to it. 

Obesity has been linked as a major risk factor to several life-threatening illnesses.  These illnesses that have been associated with obesity include (but are not limited to) cardiovascular disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke, diabetes and some cancers.

Cardiovascular disease can include heart attack, blocked arteries that can lead to a heart attack, congestive heart failure, and arrythmias (irregular heartbeats).

Hypertension is the same as high blood pressure.  Normally your blood pressure should be in the range of 120/80.  This is not set in stone and some people’s blood pressure will be higher or lower than this.  What’s important is that your doctor is monitoring your blood pressure on a regular basis to assess for any abnormal changes.  If this occurs they may prescribe medication to help control your blood pressure.  Exercise and proper diet can also help control your blood pressure.  High blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Stroke is also know as a CVA.  This means you have had a bleed on the brain that can destroy brain tissue and lead to areas of paralysis in your arms, legs or both.  It can also affect your ability to speak, to understand speech, to eat and cause memory problems.  Obesity can predispose you to having a CVA or stroke.

Diabetes is a disease that affects the level of sugar in a persons body.  When sugar levels become to high or to low it can have serious affects on how a person’s body functions leading to more serious health problems that can affect your vital organs including your heart, kidneys, cardiovascular system and brain.  Diabetes can also lead to circulatory problems that can affect the central nervous system and cause serious problems in the legs that can sometimes lead to amputation.