Childhood obesity warning! Blood pressure and blood sugar abnormality rates are 2 times higher

A fat child is not necessarily a blessing! The National Health Bureau pointed out that not only are they more likely to become obese adults when they grow up, they are also prone to chronic diseases such as diabetes. The risk of disease actually emerges as early as childhood. Surveys show that the rates of abnormal blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids in obese children are almost twice that of children of normal weight, which is a cause for concern for their health.

Being fat is not necessarily a blessing for children. Not only are they more likely to become obese adults when they grow up, but surveys show that the rates of abnormal blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids in obese children are almost twice that of children of normal weight, which is a cause for concern for their health.

In 2009, the National Health Administration commissioned a study on "Family Factors of Childhood Obesity" and selected 16 kindergartens and 8 elementary schools in Taipei and Taichung. The research subjects were all children in the last year of kindergarten and the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades of elementary schools. A total of 6,480 people participated in physical examinations and 713 people underwent blood tests.

Obese children are at risk for three high chronic diseases

The results showed that the abnormal blood pressure rate of overweight and obese children was 20.0%, the abnormal blood lipid rate was 23.5%, and the abnormal blood sugar rate was 13.6%. Compared with 12.7%, 14.4% and 7.7% of normal weight children, the abnormal blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid rates of overweight and obese children were almost twice that of normal weight children.

Chiu Shu-ti, director of the National Health Administration, said that research has confirmed that two-thirds of obese children will become obese adults, and that obese children not only become candidates for chronic diseases at an early age, but are also more likely to develop problems such as precocious puberty, lack of self-confidence, and short stature. She reminded parents that they should seize their children's golden period in elementary school and avoid obesity through the following four healthy eating guidance methods.

Four tips for parents to help children avoid obesity and promote healthy eating

1. Healthy shopping: Go shopping for food with your children and teach them to choose foods that are good for their health, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh milk, brown rice, etc. Avoid high-fat, high-salt, high-calorie foods such as potato chips, fried chicken, and fast food.

2. Provide healthy choices: Give children more praise and provide healthy food choices. For example, provide boiled water or sugar-free tea when children are thirsty, and praise them when they drink water, instead of simply prohibiting them such as "don't eat fried chicken" or "don't drink Coke".

3. Don’t use unhealthy food as rewards or celebrations: Parents should avoid buying sweets or fast food as birthdays or rewards, so that children don’t associate unhealthy food with beautiful and positive things such as joy and glory, which is a disguised encouragement that makes it difficult for children to control themselves.

4. Parent-child meals: Eat with your children more often. Parents should take the lead in eating fruits and vegetables, and show that they enjoy the food, and even give praise. This will have a subtle effect and strengthen children's love for these foods.