Prevent overweight and obesity in children

Overweight - obesity (OB) is a condition of fat accumulation in the body as a result of energy imbalance, in which energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. Obesity occurs in all ages, including children and adults.

Why do children get TC-BP?

Children with TC-BP are due to many combined causes, interactions between environmental factors and genetic factors. The main causes are due to unreasonable nutrition and lack of physical activity. Energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, so the excess is converted into fat accumulated in the tissues. A diet rich in fat and high in energy density is closely related to increased TC-BP rates. Lack of physical activity, reduced activity (sports, walking, swimming, cycling, etc.); increased sedentary activity (watching TV, playing video games, etc.) reduces energy expenditure, increases fat accumulation; Hormonal dysfunction.

Growth hormone (GH) is related to fat burning, this process occurs most strongly at night when sleeping, so if you lose sleep, it will reduce fat burning and disrupt the production of hormones that regulate eating, reduce leptin production to help the brain feel full but increase ghrelin production to stimulate appetite so children eat a lot; In addition, children whose parents have TC-BP, high birth weight, and stunted malnutrition are all at risk of TC-BP; TC-BP children are often gluttonous, eat quickly, snack, like sweets, fast food increases blood sugar and insulin, causing hypoglycemia to react and increase appetite. The habit of eating a lot in the evening, eating while watching TV is typical of TC-BP children.

Control your child's diet and lifestyle to prevent obesity. Illustration photo

The impact of TC-BP on children's health

Studies by the Institute of Nutrition and the Nutrition Center of Ho Chi Minh City show that in Hanoi (2003), the rate of TC-BP in primary school students was 4.1% (1997), increasing to 7.9% (2002) and in children aged 4-6 was 4.9% (2003). In Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of TC-BP in primary school students was 12.2% (1997) increasing to 22.7% (2004) and in children under 5 years old was 2% (1996) increasing to 3.3% (2001).

- TC-BP in children has a great impact on nutritional status, long-term health and longevity.

- Children with TC-BP are susceptible to chronic non-communicable diseases and later on, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. A study by the Institute of Nutrition on primary school students in Hanoi (2002) showed that children with TC-BP have dyslipidemia, 66.7% have increased triglycerides; 10.5% have increased total cholesterol; 5.7% have increased LDL-C and 5.7% have decreased HDL-C. The rate of hypertension in children with TC-BP is 16.6%, significantly higher than that of normal children.

- Puberty: earlier but also stops growing early. The height of pre-pubescent children with ADHD is often taller than their age, but when they reach adulthood, they tend to be shorter than their age.

- Obesity in children is generalized obesity, fat accumulates in the chest, abdomen, and buttocks, making children often tired, have difficulty breathing when exerting themselves, and have dull pain in the limbs.

- Psychologically, children are prone to inferiority complex, shame, are often teased by friends, have difficulty integrating into the community, and have reduced academic performance.

- Expensive medical services affect the family and social economy.

What to do when children have TC-BP?

The general rule is to adjust your diet and increase physical activity to limit weight gain.

Adjust the diet: Reduce fat, carbohydrates, reduce rice and replace with corn and potatoes; Increase vegetables and fruits to provide fiber; Reduce sweets, soft drinks, candies, chocolate; Prepare food by steaming, boiling, reducing frying; Adjust the distance between meals appropriately, do not let the child get too hungry; However, the diet needs to have enough nutrients, balanced portions for the child to continue to grow and develop, avoid limiting excessive eating and drinking, causing nutritional deficiencies.

Increase physical activity: Increase age-appropriate physical activity to burn energy; Reduce time spent watching TV and playing video games. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 2 years old should not watch TV and that older children should only watch TV and play video games for a maximum of 2 hours per day; Medical and surgical treatments are currently only available to adults.

TC-BP prevention in children

Nutrition-related TC-BP is a disease that can be prevented by proper nutrition along with appropriate physical activity. For young children, it is necessary to take good care of them right from the womb to avoid malnutrition or excess nutrition in infants. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months, breastfeeding for up to 2 years and appropriate complementary feeding helps children grow and develop to their fullest; For older children and adolescents, eating needs to ensure nutritional needs, energy intake should not be too high.

Encourage children to eat vegetables and fruits, limit the use of energy-rich foods, poor micronutrients, sugary drinks, carbonated soft drinks, and encourage children to participate in sports activities, live a moderate life, limit watching TV, playing video games, and staying up too late; It is important to improve knowledge of proper nutrition practices in the community and there needs to be a close combination between health and education, between family and school in controlling children's diet and activities.

According to SKDS