Parents need to ensure their children maintain healthy habits to check the increasing number of cases of child obesity
Nine months since the pandemic began and closed down Indian schools, paediatric obesity has become a major health concern. Online classes, increased screen time and the lack of physical activity due to Covid-19 have led to children and adolescents developing unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits. Dr Neetu Talwar, senior consultant and paediatric pulmonologist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurgaon, says, “People from all age groups have been affected [by this change in lifestyle], but those under five and adolescents have been hit especially hard.” She gives the example of an eight-year-old child who came to her with complaints of nausea and lethargy and severe abdominal pain. Otherwise clinically fine, the child was prescribed symptomatic treatment but the problem remained even after two more consultations. After a little probing, she found that the child was being overfed on home-cooked pastas and pizzas.
Too much time spent on sedentary activities such as watching TV, playing video games and sitting for long hours in front of laptops and computers has contributed to the rise in cases. Dr Prashanth Gowda, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician at Motherhood Hospitals in Sarjapur, Bengaluru, says, “Proper nutrition is also not being provided to children—some overeat to cope with problems or to deal with stress or to fight boredom.” Those between three and 10 are especially vulnerable to weight gain and obesity. Dr Gowda elaborates, “One example is of a two-year-old boy and his five-year-old brother, who liked playing video games and watch TV for hours. They had been told by their parents that they could watch cartoons while they ate; since they did not want to switch off the TV, they kept on eating. Because of the pandemic, they were not allowed to play outside, and therefore had no physical activity—the only thing they had been doing was eating and sleeping and therefore had put on weight.”
Two major complications caused by the pandemic are weight gain and loneliness. Restrictions on play time and sedentary lifestyles are major contributors. “A lot of children have developed belly fat as cooking and eating have become the new pass-times. This food obsession has led to weight gain issues,” explains Pallavi Bhardwaj, health and lifestyle coach and co-founder of Save Well Being.
Connect with Health
Obese children could even see consequences for their physical and mental health. Cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, hyperinsulinism (high levels of insulin) and abnormalities in lipid metabolism are some potential problems. Another comes from the relationship between obesity and viral diseases. “In Canada, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, obesity has become the third most prevalent demographic factor among children admitted to the ICU, behind only those with serious associated diseases, such as immunosuppression and cancer. In New York, obesity has become the most prevalent comorbidity among 50 serious cases of Covid-19 affecting children and adolescents,” says Dr Talwar. The three main risk factors that link obesity to Covid-19 shown in adults are also present in children and adolescents as well—chronic subclinical inflammation, impaired immune responses and underlying cardiorespiratory diseases.
The Role of Parents
Parents are the real teachers and inculcating healthy habits in children is an important lesson. When children have unhealthy diets—for instance, when they don’t each vegetables—their parents are in many ways responsible. Dr Anjali Hooda, director at Livenutrifit and the Center for Obesity and Longevity, says, “We force our children to study but never to eat salads, fruits and vegetables. Parents should ensure to keep their children away from gadgets, from sitting for too long and should ensure that they eat more natural foods than packed foods.”
Food habits are in some ways determined by food being offered as a reward for desired behaviour. This is often done by parents in their behavioural training of children in the early years. Dr Talwar explains: “Food is often a source of comfort rather than a source of nutrition. Obese children are known to eat more in the evening (after 6 pm) and less in the morning. This also depends on the social dietary habits of the family.” What is therefore required is for good habits to be developed—an avoidance of overindulgence, balanced diets for the entire family and an avoidance of nighttime eating—so that children learn by example.
Parents also need to ensure children have some physical activity—family walks or a jogs or being responsible for some household chores can help. “Engage children with quizzes and board games rather than screen time. Getting into healthy conversations and indulging in good nutritive meals are some ways to keep healthy. Ensure that children don’t have high-calorie diets such as packaged chips and canned juices, but consume a nutritionally dense diet,” suggests Bhardwaj.
Dos and Don’ts
Children can channel their energy into hobbies other than those involving screen time, such as cooking, arts and crafts, or at-home exercises. Dr Hooda saysm “Some form of voluntary work, like taking care of the elders and pets, helping the underprivileged are other ways to channel youthful energies in more wholesome ways. The involvement of grandparents or parents is important for such activities. Adult supervision can set a great example for them.”
Diet and physical activities are the cornerstone for healthy lives, and every child should have an hour of physical activity no matter what. There should also be limits on gadget time—two to three hours at the most—as well as good eating habits, including three to four servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and eight to 10 hours of sleep. Artificial sugar from processed foods should be minimised and packaged foods should be rationed or done away with entirely. During this crucial times, children’s health and habits are in their parents’ hands.
Source : Indiatoday/what parents can do about childhood obesity
UPDATED ON: Dec 8, 2020