WHAT IS IT?

We all know that Obesity has something to do with being fat, but what is it actually, and how BIG a problem is it? Well, according to the Wikipedia, Obesity is a condition in which there is so much body fat that the health of a person may be affected negatively by it. It derives from the Latin word "obesitas" meaning stout, fat or plump. In today,s article we take a look at a few mind blowing facts about childhood obesity.

THE PROBLEM TODAY

Obesity is a fast spreading problem for children today. In fact it is currently one of the leading causes of death that can be prevented. It is estimated that 1/3rd of all children between 2-19 years are overweight or obese and it is spreading so fast that it is now considered as an epidemic (a disease that spreads throughout a region). Although obesity was previously thought to be confined to western countries mainly, especially among the rich and affluent families, the number of obese children in developing countries is steadily increasing, even among the not so well-to do families. Did you know that in the world around 22 million children under 5 years are overweight and there are 2.5 million deaths due to obesity each year?

AM I OBESE?

Scientifically speaking, to find out if you are obese we need to calculate a value called the Body Mass Index or BMI for short. This is quite simple to do:

Body Mass Index = Weight in kg
Height2 in m2
For example a boy who weighs 25 kg with a height of 100 cm has a BMI of 25
BMI = 25

(1) 2
To assess your BMI you need to compare it with the BMI of other children of the same sex and age. This is done using special tables which have been made for this purpose.
In general a BMI of <18.5 - underweight
18.5-25 normal
25-30 overweight
30 - 40 obese
So the boy in the example is on the upper border of the normal limit.

WHAT MAKES PEOPLE OBESE?

1. Unhealthy eating habits: this is mostly due to an energy-rich and nutrient poor diet. Eating foods like cakes, chocolates, fried foods and fizzy drinks as well as too much of carbohydrate rich food like rice and pasta heaps up the calories, which, if not burned off are stored in the body as fat.

2. A sedentary lifestyle: Watching too much TV, hours spent playing computer and video games, and sleeping too much contribute to the slow burning off of calories and eventual addition of fat to your body. A survey carried out in Sri Lanka revealed that only 9.2% of the children in the sample were physically active on most days of a week.

3. Genetic factors: In some cases obesity runs in the family. Since such people burn off calories much more slowly than others, they tend to put on weight faster. 80% of children with both obese parents will end up becoming obese.

SO WHY WORRY?

Obesity not only affects the health of the body but the mind also.
1. Being obese can affect your lifestyle, making you tired and uncomfortable carrying all that weight around, not to mention the stress on your joints. This may result in joint deformities and Osteoarthritis (joint pains)

2. Society tends to look down on obese people making it hard to get on in school and the work place eventually leading to depression. Teenagers may have a constant battle with their appearance and as a result their social life might be affected negatively.

3. Obesity is associated with a number of breathing problems like breathlessness, wheezing and obstructive sleep apnea (a condition in which kids stop breathing suddenly at night)

4. Obesity in adults is associated with an increased risk for a number of medical conditions like: Diabetes Milletus, heart disesase, stroke, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, and cancers. With obesity affecting more and more young people today, these conditions are becoming more common in kids. Being obese also means that your lifespan may be reduced by 6-7 years.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?

1. Eat wisely and correctly: limit the amount of fats and sugars you eat. Avoid eating large portions and eating in front of the TV as you tend to eat more when doing so. Eat more fruits, vegetables and legumes. Substitute fried foods with baked, steamed or grilled choices- these require much less oil. Avoid carbonated and soft drinks. Choose natural fruit juices and drink plenty of water.

There are plenty of healthy options for snacks today so let your imagination go wild!
2. Make sure you get at least 30 min of regular intensity activity on most days of a week. This can be anything that you find interesting-swimming, jogging, running, skipping, or team sports like cricket, basketball, netball etc. Avoid being a "couch potatoe - go for a more active past time.

3. Equally important is getting a good nights rest, at least 6-8 hours per day will see you up and active and ready to face a new day and its challenges

If you are obese, don't worry….you are not alone. The good news is that you can help yourself. The main thing is to start making a few changes, because a few small efforts often go a long way. A few minutes of exercise every day, cutting down on an hour of TV viewing to begin with, saying no to a sugar-rich snack, and you could be looking at a healthier you in weeks. Remember, the main thing is to burn off those excess calories and live a long healthy, happy life!!