Universal Health Solutions

The Health Implications of Childhood Obesity

Posted on August 22, 2011

Childhood obesity is a severe health condition that is on the rise. According to research, in the last 40 years, childhood obesity has increased four times! It is now estimated that approximately 18% of children from the ages of 6 to 19 are overweight. Because childhood obesity holds so many negative health implications, it is important that we focus our attention on this growing issue immediately. To learn more about childhood obesity and it's health implications, continue reading this article. Throughout, we will discuss the consequences of childhood obesity, as well as briefly discuss how we can begin to control childhood obesity through healthy eating habits.

As said previously, obese children are likely to face a wide range of serious health conditions and mental issues. Let's speak more in depth about each of these issues, beginning with mental health.

Children who are overweight are often bullied and ridiculed by other children, having a significant impact on their self esteem. According to healthcare professionals, children who are unhappy with themselves and their weight are likely to develop serious mental conditions such as eating disorders, depression, and substance abuse.

Aside from mental health issues, childhood obesity can also lead to a variety of physical health complications. Children who are overweight or obese are at a heightened risk of developing high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. These two conditions are very serious and, if they are not dealt with, can eventually lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, and even death. Childhood obesity can also lead to a variety of other health complications including type two diabetes, as well as bone and joint problems. Read more...

Childhood Obesity Information

Posted on July 27, 2011

Childhood Obesity has reached epidemic proportions around the world. It is no longer confined to the UK, USA, and some European countries. It is now shown around the world that Childhood Obesity has raised from 1 in 5 to 1 in 4. This childhood obesity information is staggering when you consider a small province in Ireland; the North of Ireland has 10,000 obese children. The rise in childhood obesity has been gathering speed at such an alarming rate that if it continues, no health service will be able to cope with the complications of childhood obesity. The childhood obesity information keeps on getting more facts each day on this growing menace of obesity to our society and way of life. One has to throw out the live and let live attitude. This menace of obesity has to be smashed and done very quickly by giving as much as possible childhood obesity information to parents, guardians and children institutes.

Children should have a healthy well balanced food regime that gives them the energy to grow and develop. The more they take in; in energy what ever is not used up is stored as Fat and the children will become overweight or obese. Been obese means you are carrying far too much weight. Obesity is caused by regularly eating fast food, high caloric drinks, it is in plain language eating and drinking more calories then the body needs. These fast foods and processed foods contain so much sugar and fat that if you're not physically active you will become obese.

Once a child is overweight or obese, they are more likely to develop serious health problems which is not in any way good for the child and that obesity leads to life threatening circumstances such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, liver disease, early puberty, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, asthma and shins infections and most evil of all cancer. Obese children sadly mature to be obese adults. In addition of alarm is the death rate which is on the rise for childhood obesity and adolescence obesity. No parent wants to stand at their son or daughter's grave when there is a way to avoid this very sad situation. I am an avid fan for breastfeeding. It is one of the best ways to help your child to avoid obesity. Read more...

Tackling Modern Childhood Health Issues With Outdoor Fun

Posted on June 19, 2011

There has been growing concern in the regarding childhood obesity, particularly in westernized countries where fast foods have become so prominent. From 1980 to 2008 the incidence of childhood obesity has increased by nearly 15% in the United States alone. Adolescent obesity has increased 13% over the same time period. Studies show that childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past three decades, and future projections look bleak.

The explanation for this dramatic increase in overweight children is not difficult to understand. Thirty years ago technology had not yet advanced to the point where it targeted children. Portable tape cassettes were beginning to replace CD players, and the once popular boom box became a thing of the past. But the nearly indestructible mp3 player was still two decades away, and youngsters remained in the "hands-off" stage of personal music devices. Computer games were sparse, and those that existed were visually unappealing to a child, and far too complex for a child to play. Consequently, children aged six to eleven continued to seek their entertainment in physical activity. Sports included kickball, soccer, swimming, flag tag, and tee ball. Outdoor games included tag, hide and seek, and red rover. Chores for children often involved tasks such as raking leaves and planting. Garden toys made it fun to work outside, and children assisted parents in gardening tasks. Kids were always on the move. Obesity was not an issue.

With the advent of computer games, and gaming systems like the Sony PlayStation and the Nintendo series, suddenly children became the target of colourful, exciting advertisements. Outdoor toys and garden toys gathered dust. Children spent hours every day sitting in front of computer monitors, television screens, or handheld devices. Physical activity dramatically fell, while obesity quietly rose. Today we can witness truly advanced gaming devices with colourful graphics and crisp sound. Many are small and conveniently portable. Outdoor toys cannot compete with these electronics that capture the imagination of children, draw them in and hold them captive for hours every day. Read more...