Prevent your child from childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is increasingly worrying parents and pediatricians. And no less. Research numbers show that childhood obesity has been increasing in recent times. Overweight children represent about 34.8% of the total child population.

According to the President of the Scientific Department of Nutrology of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP), Virginia Weffort, the problem of obesity is divided into two situations: poor diet and physical inactivity. "Children and adolescents are mostly sitting or lying in front of the TV screens, computer, cell phone and others, do not do physical activity, sometimes not even in schools," says the pediatrician.

We need to encourage a healthy life early on, with examples and stimuli. From the moment you start inserting food into your baby's routine, your mother should be careful to offer a variety of nutrients. "If the child does not know all kinds of healthy foods, until 2 years, after that it will be more difficult to have a proper eating habit," warns the professional.

In addition, one must also worry about feeding the mother while she is breastfeeding. "When a woman has a high fat diet, she can pass it to the child through breast milk," he says.

Encourage your child in all age groups of your growth. It offers him vegetables, tubers and cereals, as well as fruits and milk. Prevent your child from consuming soda and processed products.

An ideal overweight child may have health problems in the present as well as in the future. Many of them may have impaired growth, diabetes, increased cholesterol, and are still young, hypertension, menstrual cycle abnormalities and stroke.

The pediatrician warns that prevention is the best medicine for obesity, ie take care before the numbers on the scale get high. "But if the picture is already installed, you should do a reeducation and encourage the practice of physical activity," he explains.

The pediatrician advises that parents should stimulate children's energy expenditure. "Daily practice of moderate or vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes is enough for a less sedentary life," he explains.

Suggested by Virginia, check out the little habits that can lessen childhood sedentary lifestyle and make the daily routine of little ones more active:

Preventing Childhood Obesity (April 2024)