CHILDHOOD OBESITY AS A MALNUTRITION

Childhood obesity has been called “one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or well-being.

Globally, an estimated 43 million preschool children (under age 5) were overweight or obese in 2010 and over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016. Currently, childhood obesity represents a significant public health challenge in both developed and developing countries by increasing the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as high blood glucose levels, raised blood pressure, abdominal obesity and high lipid profiles. Recent estimates suggest that over 38 million children younger than 5 years of age were overweight or obese in 2019.

 According to The World Health Organization (WHO), children in low-and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to inadequate prenatal, infant- and young- child nutritional states. These children are also exposed to energy dense, high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, micronutrients-poor foods, which tend to be lower in cost and also lower in nutrients quality. These dietary patterns, in conjunction with lower levels of physical activities resultin a sharp increase in childhood obesity.

Management/Prevention

To help prevent excess weight gain in your child, you can:

• Set a good example. Make healthy eating and regular physical activity a family affair. Everyone will benefit and no one will feel singled out.

• Reduce portion size and go for nutrients dense rather than energy dense foods

• Have healthy snacks available. Options include whole fruits with low-fat yogurt, whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk, air-popped popcorn without butter.

• Offer new foods multiple times. Don't be discouraged if your child doesn't immediately like a new food. It usually takes multiple exposures to a food to gain acceptance.

• Eliminate or reduce sugar sweetened beverages such as soft drinks and fruits juice.

• Choose nonfood rewards. Promising a fruit drink for good behavior is a bad idea.

• Be sure your child gets enough sleep. Some studies indicate that too little sleep may increase the risk of obesity. Sleep deprivation can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to increased appetite.

Dtn Millicent Onyinyechi.

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