Lack of Exercise
A lack of physical activity is a major contributor to childhood obesity. Regular exercise burns calories and promotes a lean, healthy body. A lack of regular exercise leads to physical atrophy, a slowed metabolic rate, and promotes weight gain. Children who lead mostly sedentary, inactive lifestyles tend to be heavier and less healthy than their more active counterparts. Although there are many contributing factors in the development of childhood obesity, a lack of regular exercise is one of the most prevalent factors.
High Fat, High Sugar Diet
A high fat, high sugar diet is a main contributor to the development of childhood obesity. Foods high in fat and sugar are cheap, convenient, tasty and readily available in places frequented by children and adolescents such as schools, fast food restaurants and neighborhood corner markets. In addition, foods high in both fat and sugar tend to be less filling than more nutritional, higher quality foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Therefore, children are more likely to overeat and indulge in these less nutritional, high fat, high sugar food types that encourage weight gain and obesity.
Parental Influences
Obese children are more likely to have obese parents than are normal weight children. Children are very receptive and conducive to the lifestyles and habits, including the dietary and exercise habits, of their parents. Parents who make poor food choices, lead sedentary lifestyles, and encourage their children to follow suit are more likely to foster attitudes and behaviors in their children that lead to obesity. Children who grow up in households with parents who devalue the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle are at an increased risk for developing not only childhood obesity but long-term, chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Tags: childhood obesity, high sugar, more likely, children more, children more likely