Controlling Factors That Contribute To Childhood Obesity

• Discuss medical issues with your doctor
• Recognize and limit the reasons for inactivity
• Provide resources for proper nutrition away from home

Preventing Childhood Obesity - Talking To Your Doctor

Your child’s weight is not a “private matter” or a “personal issue” it is a medical issue. Even if your child doesn’t seem to be at risk, there may be contributing factors which can bring risk of childhood obesity.

Your doctor should check your child’s weight each year to ensure that it is proportionate to their height and age. Your doctor will use different factors which contribute to childhood obesity to identify if your child is at risk. These factors include the following:

• Family history
• Birth weight
• Ethnic and cultural factors
• Social and environmental issues
• Age and height

Preventing Childhood Obesity - Promote Activity

One of the main contributing factors of childhood obesity is that children do not get enough physical activity to burn off excess energy being consumed by their bodies. Because of this, the body turns the energy into stored fat, which results in weight gain. Aside from providing for physical activities at home, there are other things which you can do to help your child remain active away from home.

• Promote and encourage sports or club activities which promote physical activity
• Encourage your child’s school to provide for PE classes or recess at least once a day
• Start or join community groups which provide physical activities for the local children

Preventing Childhood Obesity - Food Intake Away From Home

The most important contributing factor in childhood obesity is improper nutrition. While it is important to maintain healthy eating habits at home, you should also try to control the type of nutrition you child is getting while at school. Here are some tips on achieving this goal.

• Pack your child’s lunch and snack
• Limit the amount of money your child takes to avoid their using it on soda and quick food items
• Help promote healthy food choices offered by the school
• Have a general idea of what food your child is getting at school

There are numerous contributing factors of childhood obesity which are outside the home. Consulting with your doctor and promoting a healthy lifestyle away from home will help your child avoid or contain many of these factors.