The Top 10 Causes of Childhood Obesity

The Top 10 Causes of Childhood Obesity

Obesity is a disease that threatens all age groups, from young to old. Although obesity has more deadly consequences in middle and senior age groups, most obese patients develop obesity from childhood. Especially in our country, the number of people prone to obesity is increasing since achieving the ideal weight is perceived as "healthy." What do we know about the causes? Let's have a look.

Improper parenting increases generations' prone to obesity!

Recent studies have increasingly suggested that improper family upbringing is a general cause of obesity. Food-commodifying families, in particular, could be more consistent in getting the child to love food! The "eat first, then junk food" encouragement that families offer children to eat leads children to perceive junk food as a reward. In this case, individuals who encounter sugary and excessively fatty foods during childhood consume more foods, which leads to obesity.

In this case, it is suitable for families to warn their children about healthy eating and adapt them to the game to raise a healthier generation. In particular, low fruit and vegetable consumption in childhood is insufficient to strengthen children's immune systems. In this case, children try to meet their sugar needs through needs such as cola or gummy bears. Declaring such foods (cola, jelly beans, chewing gum, etc.) as a "reward" for children is a significant cause of obesity.

Inactive children in the risk group for obesity!

Especially youngsters who spend too much time in front of screens because their parents don't care enough about them.

This situation causes children to become accustomed to a sedentary life. Computer and phone-dependent children are in a more risky group for obesity than physically active children.

Neglecting their children puts children at significant risk of developing obesity. Time not spent together and continuous play with electronic devices are put closer at risk.

Children who overcome trauma and obesity more often!

Children with underdeveloped emotions are likelier to make mistakes that lead to obesity. For example, children who were exposed to bullying, harassment, violence, or other traumatic events as children see food as a means of "protection." For this reason, excessive food consumption, which has developed since childhood, is prone to obesity in old age.

Good educators should treat children exposed to childhood trauma. When children are neglected and "abused" in this regard, they may have eating disorders and want to eat constantly. Hormonal changes in the brain can affect the child's feeling of satiety, and even if children eat enough, they may need more food.

What should I do?

First, Doctors send fat patients about healthy eating and harmful foods. Although Grade 4 children receive this education from the Ministry of Education, it is less valuable than family education. Family education and play help children understand which foods are harmful and which are healthy.

With enough information, children may understand what problems food causes. In this case, junk foods that increase brain dopamine levels are much more attractive to children, and children try to eat as many of these foods as possible.

Vitamin D insufficiency, as revealed by research, also

 leads to obesity in children. Vitamin deficiencies in children can lead to dangerous dietary habits, and family neglect can make children obese.