Nowadays, there are many scare stories and news about the incidence of childhood and teenage obesity and their risks. Each time these stories appear, they will be followed with calls for government intervention or large-scale social changes. The fact is that some of these stories are over-the-top and there is a need to put the basic facts right.
With the increase affluence and lower cost of food, our young have access to the food of their choice. At the same time, convenience foods, fast food establishments and snacks stores mushroomed everywhere and have made it easier for them to consume too much calories. With the popularity of the computer and Internet activities, children and teens spend a larger proportion of their time being sedentary than in yesteryears. TV watching and talking on the phone, of course, have been popular for decades. But with the addition of the Internet, hours of physical activity per week has declined for many. The result is that children today are on average heavier than they were a few decades ago. They also tend to consume more foods high in complex sugars and fat, and less fiber, fruits and vegetables. The net effect is, for some, obesity. Obesity is measured somewhat differently for children compared to adults. As a result of their rapidly changing bodies and metabolic rates that differ, children and teens often experience growth spurts that would skew any measurement that used BMI (Body Mass Index) primarily. Instead of using BMI alone as a starting point, BMI is combined with age and gender to create a more accurate picture. Where an adult would be considered (borderline) obese with a BMI of 30 or greater, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) charts would designate a child as obese at the 95th percentile. The two are roughly equivalent, but it is necessary to look at the charts for a more careful analysis. Percentage of body fat is another important measurement and here again the numbers differ by sex. An obese boy would be identified as one whose body fat was 25% or more of total body weight. For girls the number is 32% of body fat as a percentage of total weight. One major reason for the difference is simply that females naturally have a higher percentage of body fat their entire lives. For adult males the number is roughly 15% for a healthy and fit individual. But for women the number is around 27%. As with adults, the way to reduce body fat and excess weight involves proper diet and regular exercise. Usually, these involve some lifestyle changes. These are often easier to implement for younger children, and have the added advantage of establishing good habits that typically carry on into their teenage years and beyond. If our children and teenagers can start on the road to good health when young, it will be easier for them to maintain their heathy state as they transit into adulthood. Get the latest children and teenagers weight loss news at http://www.fatburnworks.com/weightloss/category/teen-weight-loss/. Learn To Cook(Home) Cooking Articles Cooking Videos Cooking Store Cooking Blog |
