Mothers, Here Are 6 Ways You Can Fight Childhood Obesity

A new study, published in the journal BMC Public Health finds that children who regularly walk or cycle to school are less likely to be overweight or obese than those who opt for a car or public transport. For mothers around the world, childhood obesity has become a growing epidemic. A sedentary lifestyle, coupled with space crunch and a dearth of space for physical activities are pushing youngsters towards an unhealthy lifestyle. Furthermore, the prevalence of quick-easy-to-make junk food is adding to the woes of mothers. The study, led by researchers from the University of Cambridge, is the first to assess the impact physical activity has on childhood and is based on results from 2,000 primary-age schoolchildren from across London.

Childhood obesity is an epidemic hitting children across the world and researchers say that it is vital to understand the relationship between obesity levels and different types of physical activity in order to develop informed policy measures that could contribute to the reversal of the childhood obesity epidemic.

For mothers, this is a worrying trend. Childhood obesity can contribute to high blood pressure and cholesterol as well as cause an increased risk of glucose impairment, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes among a host of other diseases.

With mothers around the world being worried about this ongoing trend, we share a few ways mothers can help curb obesity in children and young adults.

Create An Environment That Supports Healthy Eating And Daily Physical Activity

Keep children away from video games. Limit their screen time and encourage them to go out and play with other children.

Lead By Example

If you want them to eat well and engage in physical activity, they need to see you doing it as well.

Broaden Food Horizons

Children love junk food. Introduce them to healthy foods instead. Let them try different cuisine that has a predominance of fruits and vegetables like the Mediterranean diet.

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Say No To Sweets, Save Special Occasion

Children do not need to be pampered with candies and cakes every day. Save the sweet meats and chocolates for special occasions.

Curb Drinking Sodas And Juice

While some parents believe juices are healthier than fizzy drinks, juice contains an equally high amount of sugar. The best beverages for children are water and milk.

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Make Your Children Join Physical Activity Clubs

Mothers, this one is very important. Take out a bit of time from your daily schedules and encourage and enroll your children in physical activities such as dance yoga or swimming. This encourages movement and flexibility and keeps obesity at bay.