causes of childhood obesity

Main Causes of Childhood Obesity

Causes of childhood obesity are various. However, a kid rarely has only one cause in each case. They commonly have multiple causes at once. These causes work together and obesity makes the result. The main causes of this problem can be listed as follow.

• Unhealthy Diet

Children nowadays have a lot more snacks than children ever before. Some children even have snack the whole day without stopping. Children normally need only two times of snack in a day. It allows them to take a lot more calories from it. As we all know it, too much calorie intake leads to overweight problem.

• Being Inactive

Healthy portion of diet needs to be completed with enough exercise. Your children don’t necessarily need to do some real sport routine, but you can engage them in physical activities like playing. Children who stay in front of the TV all day or playing gadget have the risk of obesity.

• Bad Environment

Children commonly don’t have a strong resistance on food except when they are ill or angry. If our children are surrounded by food, they will likely build a bad eating habit. Provide only enough supply to stop them from being excessive eating.

• Psychological Problem

Like what happens to adult, children have their own way in coping with problems. Big problems like family crisis, divorce, or other problems may lead them to psychological problems. This situation often leads children to build bad eating habit.

• Genetic Factor

If a kid was born in an overweight family, he will likely build the same pattern as the other family members and they tend to share the same weight problem if not encouraged for exercises and healthy eating.

• Social and Economic Factor

Poor financial background can be one of causes of childhood obesity. Their parents couldn’t provide healthy food and activities for them and this builds bad habit on eating and activities. These kids need a lot of play time.

• Medical Condition

This is quite rare but few children suffer from medical problems that lead them into obesity against their will. Even though cure and treatment are now provided, these children tend to have overweight problem for most of their life. 

Knowing the causes, parents should be more aware on their children need. Children need nutritious food in healthy combination. They also need good atmosphere and environment to build healthy diet. Current lifestyle represents the contrary of what suggested for children, exposing all unhealthy habit for them. Build a healthy diet and protect your children from causes of childhood obesity.