More than 1 billion adults in the world are fat or overweight. 300 million adults are clinically obese and in need of health care. Obesity in children is not far behind, following right into the footsteps of their parents.Parents lay the foundation as role models in the home. One of the more intimate interactions within families is the gathering at meal times and dining together according to common cultural traditions. When family meals regularly consist of poor foods choices, it sends the wrong message; when no emphasis is placed on exercise, it conveys the message that it’s not important.Children model the behaviour they see in the home and when bad lifestyle habits become ingrained, it’s difficult to put aside. It can quite easily become the next generational tradition that perpetuates the cycle of obesity.According to experts, over 155 million children in the world are either overweight or obese. Obesity rates have risen over three-folds since 1980 and poses serious diet-related risks and diseases. The condition holds a frightening challenge for the future heath of those affected, and the economic burden it places on society. Although we know the formula for fighting the epidemic—wholesome eating and physical activity—we are nowhere closer to tackling this self-induced problem, head on.What does it means to be obeseObesity is described as excess body fat that causes an adverse effect on a person’s health. Measuring body fat is difficult. You determine a person’s fat level usually by direct observation and by means of a Body Mass Index, which is a scientific way to screen a person to assess whether they are: underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.Body Mass Index (BMI) measures your height in relation to your weight. Adults with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered over-weight and those with a BMI of 30 and over, are considered obese.How accurate a BMI is in determining your health risks is another questionable element to defining obesity. Health care workers have come to rely on it, many finding it a useful barometer of body fat which is needed in public health, and although it is not a perfect indicator, it is still considered a valuable tool.People who are obese tend to have psychological complexes that affect how they interact in communities. Children are especially vulnerable to depression and low self-worth, especially when ridiculed by their peers. Socialising is also difficult for both adults and children, and many times they feel like outcasts in peer group settingsChildhood effects of obesityThe cycle of obesity within families is linked more to what is provided in the family pot, culture, and lifestyle choices. A few studies have been done that has looked at obese parents with obese children. The conclusion drawn in these reviews are that:Obese children from obese parents are more likely to maintain their excessive weight as they grow into adultsThe younger the obese child, the higher the probability of that child carrying through his or her weight into adulthoodTry to start any children with weight problems on some type of regular exercise. A good example of exercise, for young children to start with is yoga. A DVD simply called Yoga For Kids is a fun based, story line playtime, where children will not associate the time spent with exercise.Other similar studies have shown obese children reared by slim parents who actually did better in weight control as they grew into adulthood, in contrast to children of obese parents.Parents play an important and responsible role in the health of their children. A child who is excessively overweight is at a disadvantage, not only in striving for normality in a cruel world, but also, facing a multitude of obstacles related to their immediate and long-term health.The immediate effects include:Risks for cardiovascular disease High cholesterol Hypertension Pre-diabetes Sleep apnoea Bone and joint complications Poor self-esteem StigmatizationThe longer it takes to lose weight as a child gets older, the greater the risks. Because children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults, they are at risks for longer-term effects correlated to excessive body fat.The long term effects include: Type 2 diabetes Several types of cancer Osteoarthritis Heart disease Cardiovascular accident or strokeWhat is normal weight?Normal weight is proportioned and balanced according to the individual’s height. Adults with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 are described as having normal weight.Obesity is diagnosed in the doctor’s office through observation and measurement using international baseline weight charts. Many doctors and researchers still refer to a BMI to calculate the ideal weight and to assess personal risks to weight-related complications.Is there an obesity or fat gene?There are certain groups of people, who, according to race and ethnicity are prone to fat accumulations on the body. We are all familiar with the standard equation for weight gain, that is, if we consume more calories than our bodies are able to burn, the excess calories will be stored as fat, and you will eventually gain weight.However, scientists believe that there are complex combinations of factors that may predispose some groups of people or ethnicities to metabolise their food differently from others. Genetic factors can significantly influence how the body regulates appetite and the rate at which it converts food into energy. Some individuals may burn fat at a speedier rate than others.A notable example of race and gender playing a significant role in obesity was recently reviewed and documented in the medical journals. The review looked at obese adolescent black and white females. The conclusion drawn from these clinical trials was that black adolescent girls who dieted and exercised as much as their white peers were still unlikely to lose weight, whereas, white adolescent girls lost weight at a quicker rate using the same combination of diet and exercise.The review highlighted a solemn fact that black girls may have a “sluggish” dysfunctional metabolic burn rate and may require a different approach to dieting. Counting calories were recommended as the primary means by which this group would achieve weight loss. A change in the diet program for black females would also need to be undertaken to make a health difference in their lives. This was an eye-opening revelation, especially for social reform and health care policy makers who typically use a blanket approach to the issues of obesity.A look at the culture of fast foodObesity rates rank high among leading industrialised countries such as the U.K. and Europe, U.S.A, and the Middle East. Of the 22 industrialised countries, the United States (US) has the highest excessive weight statistics. Two-thirds of Americans over age 20 are overweight and one-third is obese.Modernisation and globalisation of food markets are big contributors to the challenge of obesity. The fast food mentality is also at the root of it; it provides the convenience of quick family meals and satisfies the culture of instant gratification, at a hefty cost to our health. The accumulation of saturated and trans fats in the diet along with large sodas and other sugary drinks are promoting sick nations.Try eating like your ancestors used to eat and don’t consume all the fast food from the supermarkets. This is explained in more details if you read “The Original Paleo Diet” eBook, which highlights fascinating eating ideas with less cooking. It is also an eating regime that is good for weight loss.Eric Scholosser, American investigative journalist, in his “Fast Food Nation” book states that the annual health care costs in the United States which stems from obesity, approaches $240 billion.Despite billions of dollars being spent on public awareness campaigns that attempt to encourage people to eat healthily, the majority of us continue to overeat. The increased consumption of sweetened drinks contributes significantly to the high carbohydrate intake of young Americans during the last 3 decades. The consumption of fast foods has tripled over the same period.The first lady’s “let’s move” campaign against obesityThe first lady of the United States has made a success of her “let’s move” campaign aimed at the younger generation. She is getting them to learn in a “hands on” way, how foods are prepared, what constitutes healthy eating, and the benefits of exercise.In this way, the program allows children to get involved and engaged in the “conversation” about their generation’s health, in an innovative fashion. It allows them to sit up and take notice.There is a need to totally revamp the current culture we have of instant gratification, which looks for the “quick fixes” to every problem, including our health (diet pills and exercise machinery that does the work for you). We also need to recognise, as parents, the effect modern technology has on our children; creating electronic zombies glued to high-tech video screens.With newer and better television models, computers, video games, and remote controls competing for their attention, children have become couch potatoes, involved in less physical activity compared to the upbringing of their parents and grandparents.The “let’s move” campaign is an impressive launch, led by the first lady, Michelle Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity. It is about setting the right path to a healthy future for children.This ambitious goal uses a common sense approach that embraces the basics of healthy living. Parents are provided with helpful information that fosters an environment that supports healthy lifestyle choices. Policies are instituted to ensure, as far as possible, that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. Popular media programs are on-board promoting information through the kid’s network on eating right and physically activity.The strategic program also reaches out to the wider community, promoting awareness in schools and fostering alliances with restaurant food chains to also provide healthier meal options for children.Parents and caregivers are also indirectly targeted as beneficiaries of the program as they participate in healthier lifestyle changes for themselves as well as for their children.Breaking the CycleParents and caregivers play key roles in teaching their children how to make healthy choices for themselves. In today’s fast paced world this is not often easy to do. Parents need help in finding strategies that is easy to implement and will encourage compliance.NutritionDietary guidelines put forth by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide science- based advice for individuals over the age of two to promote health and to reduce chronic diseases. Similar guidelines exist in other countries that encourage their citizens to eat fewer calories, be more physically active, and make wiser food choices to achieve a better proportioned weight.A useful example used by the USDA is the MyPlate icon, which serves as a quick visual reminder to all consumers regarding healthy food choices. The icon displays how your plate should be apportioned with the right food selections. It reminds us to make half of our plate fruits and vegetables, as well as other important food groups for well-balanced meals.Eating healthy on a budget, can also be done using the 3-P’s strategy: plan, purchase, and prepare food. It is a useful economic tool, for example:Plan Planning meals for the week Finding quick veggie recipes online Creating a grocery list Checking for sales and coupons and considering discount stores for food choicesPurchase Stick to your grocery list Buy groceries when not rushed or hungry Buy store brands if cheaper Purchase some items in bulk or family packs Choose fresh fruits and vegetables in season first; buy canned veggies with less or no saltPrepare Prepare meals in advance, where possible, to avoid convenience last-minute meals Try more meatless meals, incorporate beans, peas and nuts in salads Incorporate leftovers into subsequent meals Be creative with fruits and vegetables, try juicing for a low calorie meal or snack packed with plenty of goodness and helps with sugar cravings.Start consuming some easy to digest cleansing juices. These can be fruits or vegetables, or a mix. The natural goodness of these raw foods will give the body plenty of nutrients, fibre and energy while cleansing the body of toxins at the same time. If you need a guide for different recipe ideas or more information a great download eBook is available called Amazing Natural Juices.These guidelines provide convenient and useful options for busy families.Exercise is also equally important. Activities can be incorporated into family outings, and social events. They can be interactive, fun activities especially for the children and may include skipping, hula hoop, and any other likable sporting activity. Family activities can also incorporate: Walking the dog in the park Cycling Jogging Swimming Participating in activity clubsBreaking the cycle of obesity will involve a shift in thinking about diet and exercise.Obesity is not to be taken lightly; it is an abnormal clinical condition that warrants intervention to prevent a crisis in the individual’s lives. Counselling and motivation may be needed for some parents and children to get out of the perpetuating cycle of overeating. When the only healthy solution is diet and exercise, then the responsible action is to make healthy dietary changes, get moving, and get your children to join in.
