Health Center

The issue of children’s eating habits and their effects on obesity is constantly researched and discussed by food scientists.A nutritionally well balanced diet develops growth and can also reduce / prevent the risk of developing diseases such as heart disease and some types of cancer.

Low fat diet

High-fat diets are linked with increased hazard of several serious medical conditions consisting of obesity, cancer, and heart disease. As a result, current public health recommendations highlights the importance of reducing total fat consumption to no more than 30% of total calories, or 60 grams of fat per day in an 1800 calorie diet.

The type of fat is also very important. Saturated fats in foods such as meats products raise cholesterol more than unsaturated fats, which are found in olive, peanut, canola oil or polyunsaturated fats in safflower, sunflower, corn, soybean and cottonseed oils. Consumption of saturated fats to no more than 10% of daily calories is recommended.
Although cholesterol is important for rapid growth, children over age 2 should consume it in moderation.

Meat products provide protein, and vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, iron and zinc.

General recommendations to achieve a healthy diet in meat products are:

* Basically one serving of meat per day is suitable for normal growth and development. It is suggested that serving meat more than twice a day is inappropriate / excessive.
* Choices with the least fat include lean meat, poultry without skin, fish, and dry beans and peas.
* Serving more fish and poultry and fewer red meats is recommended as red meats contain highest extent of cholesterol
* Serving bacon, sausages, spareribs, pastrami and some other high content fat meat products should be avoided / reduced. Read more…

Childhood obesity is becoming more and more of an issue in every developed country all around the world. Lots of information about childhood obesity will quote that one out of every five children is overweight. However in America the real figure is much closer to one out of three children. The large number of obese children and teenagers is sparking a demand for weight loss camps.

Overweight children often have low confidence because they get teased on a regular basis. However being overweight also has some very serious health implications. Obesity related diseases are on the increase. One of the most common risks for children who are overweight is that they can develop diabetes, or specifically Type II diabetes. There has been a marked increase in the number of young adults who suffer from this disease.

Many people still think that type II diabetes is a disease that only affects adults. However in recent times it often affects people during their teens. It is possible to control and manage the disease however there can be some serious effects over a long time. This can lead to kidney failure, blindness, limb amputations, damage to blood vessels among many others. Diabetes type II is very common at fat camps up and down the country.

Carrying around extra weight will also put extra strain on your body. This puts strain on all of your joints which can lead to muscle pain and joint problems. Even young children can suffer from cartilage damage because of the extra load. Many obese children struggle to sleep because they can’t get comfy when they go to bed. Many obese children also suffer from breathing difficulties which will cause problems when sleeping. Read more…

Childhood obesity and heredity, does that really mean that fat parents produce fat children? Statistics say yes.

Children whose parents suffer with obesity are at higher risk of suffering with obesity themselves. Studies found that for kids age 9 and under, having a fat parent more than doubled the child’s risk for becoming obese in adulthood. Genes may actually be a more powerful determinant of obesity than diet. But in some cases genes, do not always predict future health. Genes and a person’s behavior may both be needed for a person to be fat.

So when it comes down to looking at childhood obesity and heredity, in some cases multiple genes may increase someone’s susceptibility for fatness. Other outside factors such as overeating along with little to no physical activity also contribute to overweight children. When you look at the fact that heredity plays a role in one being overweight, it’s a good reason why as parents we should learn how to make our loved ones healthier. Even if heredity did play a part in you having obese kids, wouldn’t you want a healthier life for them?

For kids who are predisposed to gain weight due to heredity, their level of physical activity has really dropped, and they are spending more of their leisure time doing things that don’t burn any fat calories. This is a serious health risk and as you know prevention is critical in controlling the dangerous epidemic of obesity. Read more…