The reality is that, although obesity is already detected in infants and children under six years of age, the problem is exacerbated from that age, since neither the schools, nor the parents, nor the society are acting really effectively and continue missing real measures against child overweight.
Now, when your children are still small, much can be done, but you also need to think about the future and know the causes of this epidemic.
The boy and his surroundings
Although in many schools the sale of industrial pastries has already been banned, it is still the snack that the little ones take to recess on many occasions, or what their mothers give them when they leave class.
It is not a good option to prepare "actimeles", or sugar-filled tetrabrik juices, or soft drinks, or buns. Nuts, a piece of fruit or a whole-grain bread sandwich with a low-fat filling would be much more suitable.
Not even breakfast cereals are the best foods for children, as they have excess sugars and fats. Dairy products, fruits, animal or vegetable proteins, whole wheat bread are better options. We have become accustomed to sweet breakfasts, but these are not necessary and a cooked egg or a plate of lentils will always be better than a bun loaded with trans fats.
In the dining rooms, although the nutritional quality is taken care of, an excess of fried and of battered meat and fish is still perceived, many times in which fat quality is not the best.
In addition, school is also a factor that can prevent obesity with educational measures and menus with more fruits and vegetables.
Family eating habits are essential. Children should not eat more than exceptionally processed products (frozen pizzas, fish sticks, industrial buns), or go to the "junk" food establishments and at home you should prioritize vegetables, fruits and cook with olive oil if it is Virgin, better than better.
Healthy habits
Always within the logic we can adapt these recommendations to our particular case. My son, for example, is always thin, even now that he eats the same amount as an adult. In his case, taking care of the quality of fats, keeping sugar under control and giving him fruit and vegetables in quantity, the concern for obesity is less than that in a child who is already clear that he is overweight and does Very little exercise But you always have to take care of Healthy habits.
In school they have physical education classes and many children go to extracurricular schools, however, the real lack of physical exercise is not mitigated with this, because what children really need to develop their body is unrestricted and outdoor play, Less television and computer games, more time with your family and adequate rest.
Change society to improve children's health
The excessive intake of sugar, saturated fat and saltIt's a pump for health, for the elderly, but much more for children. This, together with stress, lack of free time to play, schedules and the absence of parents many hours of the day and proper eating habits in the family condemns children to obesity and overweight. Society must change to improve children's health.
The reconciliation of family life with school and work life It would be a real solution, allowing children to grow more free and more accompanied, with less babysitting TV, less duties and obligations, and more play time with other children and their parents. To reconcile is to invest in physical and emotional health of future generations, understanding reconciliation as family time-sharing, not as having more and more hours for children in institutions.
Prohibit food advertising for children
And with this we come to the last point, in which I believe that really serious measures should be required: food advertising for children.
There is talk of restricting it, taking great care of its contents, avoiding promotional gifts and controlling that there is no deceptive advertising promising to strengthen your health, your immune system or presumption of reinforced nutritional qualities. It is worthless, it is not fulfilled and you can not change the increasingly aggressive trend of these campaigns.
Prohibit the advertising of all processed foods for children: artificial milks, baby pots, yogurts for children, junk food and pastries, is the only solution that would really have an effect. Prohibit it radically, that is my proposal.
If we want to protect our children from being overweight and obsessive, they are no longer worthy of lukewarm measures, nor that they contain commercial interests that are devouring children's health. It's time to take real measures to reduce child overweight rates.
