Childhood Obesity Factors
In this section of Seattle Organic Restaurants I want to talk about factors that contribute to childhood obesity. You probebly have heard that you are what you eat. The most important factors that impact childhood obesity are too much screen time, a diet that lacks proper nutrients, inactivity and insomnia. Children develop their eating habits during childhood, so if your child is inactive they are most likely to be inactive when they grow up. Inactivity on its own is the root of many chronic diseases.
Keep in mind that children learn their habits from their parents. And if the parents are physically active, the children are more likely to be physically active. Studies show that children with higher risk of obesity are children who don't get enough sleep ot spend a lot of time watching TV.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggest no screen time before the age of two and with the number of screens around us that’s very hard to do. Infants who don’t have at least 12 hours of sleep at nights are at a higher risk of developing obesity within few years. Poor sleeping habits or sleeping few hours at night is one of the factors that could increase the risk of obesity in both in children and adults.
The children who are introduced to solid foods or are not being breastfed before the age of 6 months are 4 times more likely to develop obesity within few years. Not just infants, but all children and even adults need adequate sleep at night. Infants and children at the age of 3 need up to 12 hours of sleep. Children at the age of 3 to 5 need 11 hours of sleep and kids at the age of 5 to 10 need 10 hours of sleep. Children at the age of 10 to 17 need up to eight and a half hours of sleep. It’s essential to educate children to develop healthy habits at early age so they won’t develop a wave of chronic diseases when they are older.
