October 10, Day Against Obesity. Tips for prevention

October 10, Day Against Obesity. Tips for prevention
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All over the world, October 10 is celebrated World Day Against Obesity (Obesity day). For this particular event, a national awareness campaign on obesity and overweight is carried out by ADI (Association of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition).



The trend towards the spread of obesity in childhood is increasing sharply throughout the Western world and in Del Paese it has reached considerable shares: in Europe we are the first country for childhood obesity, we have exceeded the numbers of Spain and Greece, and in some Del Paesene regions (Puglia, Basilicata, Campania) the percentage of obesity and overweight reaches 35%. 



In this article

 



  • Causes of childhood obesity 
  • Consequences of childhood obesity 
  • Tips for preventing childhood obesity

Causes of Obesity: Changing Lifestyles

But how is it possible that this happened precisely in the land of the Mediterranean diet? Most of this blast of childhood obesity depends on the lifestyle changes:



  • we eat more and more outside the home,
  • cooking less and less and faster,
  • prepackaged foods are on the rise.

Furthermore physical activity was greatly reduced for children and adolescents, while up to the previous generation it was difficult for the little ones to stay still. At present, however, many hours are spent in front of tablets and mobile phones.

Read also: Obesity and children: WHO invites us to focus on breastfeeding to prevent it

The consequences of obesity

Le consequences excess weight in childhood and adolescence can be:

  • the increased risk of diabetes, arterial hypertension, severe hepatic steatosis which over time can turn into cirrhosis,
  • psychological and behavioral changes affecting quality of life,
  • bullying and what follows.

Furthermore, childhood obesity is a certain predictor for adult obesity, as 4 out of 5 boys will continue to have excess weight in adulthood.

Then, food is increasingly understood as an "escape valve" by children when they have to face difficulties encountered in the difficult evolutionary moment of pre-adolescence.

Many obese kids suffer from an eating disorder: the binge eating disorder, in the context of which in the face of difficulties, the food binge appears to be the solution.

Read also: Excess weight in childhood and the risk of obesity in adolescence

Tips for preventing obesity

We do not yet have adequate tools to prevent obesity. It may be useful to read the book Cuori invisibili (The scientific thought Publisher), written by Laura Dalla Ragione and Simone Pampanelli, which will be in bookstores on October 30, 2022 and which deals in depth with obesity and child and adolescent binge eating disorder. 

The book brings to light a series of experiences, successes and open problems, towards a disease that very often is the expression of a deeper discomfort, and is aimed at pediatricians, parents, nutritionists, teachers, to the world of sport.

Here are Dr. Dalla Ragione's advice to prevent childhood obesity.

  1. Lead a healthy diet: it is better to favor simple and varied foods, and avoid prepackaged or processed food.
  2. Try to have a non-sedentary lifestyle: it is advisable to ensure that the hours dedicated to free time are respected. The child cannot sit all day. The time spent in front of the computer should be limited. You can walk, cycle or otherwise do physical activity. 
  3. Do not blame the child for gaining weight, it is necessary to avoid making judgments and protect him from the feeling of having "gained weight". So be careful, without reproaching him, not making him feel out of place.
  4. Always catch a child's discomfort, which can use food as "comfort food". In practice, if the child is in pain, he can use food as a comfort. It is better to help him not to confuse his feelings. 
  5. Create shares: it is possible to cook together and involve the children in the choice of food.
Read also: One fifth of Del Paeseni children are overweight

TAG:
  • childhood obesity
  • risk of obesity
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