Roles of Parents in Teenage Obesity

Obesity has been an unending medical nightmare forearly age. Eating the right type of food to avoid
man through the ages, especially in communities andoverweight is a key instrument in avoiding childhood
societies where the standard of living is good enough.obesity. Implementing a diet rich in fruit, vegetables,
But in recent times, there seems to be a turn ofwhole grain and other healthy food types will allow
events. What we are experiencing now looks like anyour children to enjoy eating good food without the
obesity epidemic in children. And in most cases, we alldangers of overweight. Cooking together and eating
seem to miss the point. There is so much noise abouttogether as a family will make eating enjoyable enough
losing weight and not about preventing weight gain inwithout the need to overeat. The ease and availability
the first place, which is the problem.Parents play a vitalof fast food restaurants is another cause for concern.
role in the weight of their children; it's really part ofMost parents award their children's brilliant
parental care. Understandably, obese parents tend toperformance or a job well done with a trip to a fast
have obese children. Not just because of the geneticfood restaurant. It's not wrong to take children out
factors, but because it is more likely that these parentsonce in awhile, but it is parts of parents' care to limit
will pass down their poor eating and sedentarysuch outings to within a reasonable limit.The sedentary
lifestyles to their children. Children are always verylifestyles and reduced activity in most children is
close to their parents and in most cases, see them asanother cause for concern. Children spend hours on
role models. They are therefore more likely toend watching TVs or playing video and computer
followthe habits, norms, attitudes and beliefs of theirgames. The digital generation we live in today has not
parents. If this is understandable, what about parentshelp matters. The number of hours spent daily in these
that aren't obese?The first problem or cause ofsedentary activities pile up gradually and is a sure
obesity in children is over eating. Children love eatingprecursor to weight gain. Parents can create a healthy
and eating junk foods. Any diet that deprives childrenactive lifestyle in their children by leading active
of junk food is very likely to fail. And because parentslifestyles themselves and taking their children along.
condone their children's eating habits, they become partBiking, taking an evening walk together or swimming
of the cause of obesity in their children. As part ofare activities that parents can do with their children. It is
parental love and care, parents must learn to criticizebetter for parents to encourage their children to take
children's eating habit and teach them at an early ageup some type of sports, dance, martial arts or any
to eat just enough food for satisfaction. Makingform of activity that will cut down sedentary living
children eat slowly is an effective way to curbstyles in their children.Obesity is perhaps more
excesses in eating. Food getting into the stomachpsychologically tormenting for teenagers than for
takes about 20-30minutes to stimulate the satietyadults. They don't have the intelligence to make all the
center of the brain that brings the sense of fullness.right decisions. It is part of your parental responsibility to
Eating slowly, therefore, will help children to eat toguide them towards a better living. Their happiness at
satisfaction without overeating.Parents should alsothe end will bring you the joy and satisfaction that
learn to build the right eating habit in children from ancomes with a job well done.