Although there is no universal definition of “overweight” children are considered obese when the total body weight is more than 25 percent fat in boys and 32 percent more than in girls, the determination can be made with the help of height and weight charts National Centre for Health Statistics. Only a few extra pounds in a young child can tip the balance in obesity. At least one in five children is overweight and more than 21 percent of American children go all the way to obesity. Since 1980, the number of seriously overweight young people has nearly doubled and the average American child is now ten pounds heavier than the average weight of eight.

“I probably should not be surprised by these statistics,” said paediatrician Laurie McKillip, MD, physician group forests. “After all, we live in a society that is more than 51 percent overweight. Let’s face it, this is a problem full of dichotomies. Most people think that a chubby baby or small child is adorable, but a teenager with Overweight has the burden of insensitive remarks and teasing from their peers. We admonish young people to eat everything on their plates, and then mock them when they want seconds. While clothing stores that cater to teens are mostly smaller. Not long ago, girls who are overweight have had to go to a store plus size women to find their size. Obesity carries an increased risk of dangerous medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels in the blood, gallbladder disease, an adult onset diabetes and heart disease.

Statistics show that there is a possibility of 40 percent from an overweight child if one parent is obese, and – if both parents are overweight – that figure rises to 80 percent. There is a genetic influence to some extent, scientists believe, but there are also a cause and effect caused by children after the same high-fat diets and low levels of physical activity practiced by their parents. Obesity in children is usually due to a combination of factors – poor eating habits, their genetic composition, the amount of exercise they get, and even to some extent, ethnicity. Research has shown that obesity is more prevalent among indigenous children African Americans, Hispanics and Americans, especially girls.

Lest we be too quick to criticize the eating habits of children, studies indicate that overweight children do not necessarily overeat. Eating a small bag of chips every day for some young people may lead to a half pound weight gain a week. According to some reports, teens drink about 65 litres of soda a year. When you add the mountains of fast foods and snacks with high fat content of these drinks high in sugar, which is not too difficult to identify what are the behaviours that contribute to the problem. Medical researchers are pointing an accusing finger at the television, because many children are becoming “couch potatoes”, spend endless hours in front of the tube, eating high-calorie snacks. According to national statistics, the average child spends 24 hours a week that could best engage in physical activity. A recent study reported that the odds of overweight children found that more than 5 hours of TV a day were five times greater than that of a child who watched less than two hours a day.

“If overweight youth would only use their weapons,” she said McKillip, “to ward off the table and reach over and turn off the TV, you might be able to shed some excess weight. Unfortunately, for many obese children Medical intervention is often required. When parents notice the appearance of a weight problem that is not resolved within a few months for normal growth, it is recommended to contact your child’s doctor and arrange for a physical. A careful evaluation will help determine what is behind the weight gain, and determine if the child really needs to lose weight or just to win a slower pace so they can grow in it.

It is difficult to treat obesity in children as it is to remedy the excess weight in adults. Helping young people learn to control their weight has to be done in a soft, being careful not to bruise egos offer. Experts suggest that one way to accomplish this is to focus on improving the eating habits of the family, and not differentiate between overweight children.

Everyone in the family can benefit from knowing, for example, a quick meal consisting of normal burger, fries and a soft drink contains up to 36 percent of daily calories needed by a first grader, but not is full, even 20 percent of the nutrients the child needs. Grilled chicken instead of fried chicken pieces, mustard and ketchup instead of mayonnaise, baked potatoes instead of fries, leaving out cheese is a good place to start. Giving the “upsizing” is pushing the drive-ins and small portions. does not take much research to discover that food chains are offering meals with less fat content, and in fact are low in calories or heart healthy choices. There is no magic formula to solve the problem of each child, but we do know that early intervention is particularly valuable because the eating habits and exercise are easier to modify in childhood than in adulthood. With some general guidelines, intervention could include changes in the child’s level of physical activity, the introduction of a balanced diet with only moderate caloric restriction, and a strategy of behaviour modification system which includes a generous amount of self-monitoring and built in incentives that are not related to food.

The good news about the establishment of a family-oriented program of healthy eating is that everyone will benefit in the long term. An accompanying effort to increase physical activity is important, too. Being a role model for their young, if they see you have fun to eat right and exercise more, are more likely to follow suit. A lot plan activities that involve the family turn off the TV and enjoy activities like walking, skating, biking, hiking or swimming.

“Perhaps the most important thing a father can do for an overweight child,” said Dr. McKillip, “must be sensitive to their needs and constraints in participating in more physical activities. Find the happy medium to talk to your child about healthy eating and the benefits exercise without nagging or being too hard on their extra kilos. Your child will probably know better than anyone that he or she has a weight problem.