Page 124 - FoodFocusThailand No.199 October 2022

SCIENCE & NUTRITION

The more disturbing truth about childhood obesity,
however, is that obesity-related health risks such as high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, and joint problems, which were previously thought
to be adult issues, can affect younger people in the same
way and usually persist into adulthood. And like in most
adults, obesity can also result in lower self-esteem and
depression.

Prevention Recommendations
• Breastfeeding is important According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the longer a baby
is breastfed, the less likely they are to become overweight
as they grow older. (But this does not always imply that
formula-fed babies will grow up to be overweight.) This is
consistent with the suggestion from the team at the Harvard
ปริิมาณผู้้�ที่่�ม่น้้ำหน้ักเกิน้เกณฑ์์ใน้ปริะเที่ศไที่ย T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which advice exclusively
ปีี 2559 ปีี 2564 breastfeeding newborns without other solid foods or liquids
for their first six months of life or continuing breastfeeding
34.7% 47.2% up to a year or longer after they start eating solid food to

prevent obesity .
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• Growing youngsters require the proper portion
Causes and Complications sizes of food Toddlers between the ages of one and three
Childhood obesity is influenced by family history (genetic do not yet require a large amount of food. According to the
and hormonal factors) as well as psychological and lifestyle American Academy of Pediatrics, they should consume
issues. Children with overweight or obese parents are more roughly 40 calories for every inch of height . As for young
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likely to follow in their parent’s footsteps. Some kid’s binges
eat to deal with personal problems or emotions such as
family stress or to get rid of boredom. But more often than
not, excessive food and insufficient exercise are the most
significant contributing factors.
However, some kids can have bigger-than-average
sizes without being overweight. Also, unlike adults, children
generally have varying quantities of body fat at various
stages of development, making it difficult to accurately
access them using only body mass index (BMI), which is
based solely on height and weight. Therefore, specialists
typically compare a child’s BMI results with those of other
children. For example, a child is considered at risk of being
overweight if his or her BMI is greater than 85% (85 out of
100) of other children of his or her age and gender, and
overweight or obese if it is greater than 95%. If you are
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unsure about your child’s weight, it is best to consult a
pediatrician. Doctors may also utilize suitable growth charts
and, if necessary, additional tests to determine whether a
child is overweight.

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