Polish children are getting fatter, alarm specialists. Why are our children getting fat? Unfortunately the reason is the lack of exercise and improper nutrition of our children.
Unfortunately parents are mainly to blame for the excessive body weight of children. It results from their improper nutrition. Polish parents are very keen on buying sweet and salty snacks – as much as PLN 11.3 billion was spent on them in 2018. Another culprit of obesity in Polish children is their activity in cyberspace. Instead of going out with their peers in the backyard, children prefer to play games and “hang out” with friends online. Other causes of weight gain include:
TV shows are increasingly talking about accepting one’s body. However, being overweight and obese has devastating effects on health. The most common effects include:
Being overweight is not “just” excess body fat, but a whole set of problems that can shorten a child’s life in the future. Unfortunately, fat children are perceived by their peers as lazy and slow.
If you want to find out if your child is overweight, calculate his BMI. Then put the result on the percentile grid, taking into account gender and age.
If your child is slightly overweight, you absolutely must change his/her eating habits and encourage more physical activity. If your child is overweight, you should consult a doctor and develop a full weight loss plan.
The weight and thus the well-being of the child depend on the parent. There are a few rules to follow:
Many children forget to eat a second breakfast, this is a very big mistake. This meal is a great way to replenish energy and nutrients while giving a sense of satiety. This prevents your child from snacking between meals
Preparing a sandwich for the second breakfast gives the parent certainty that the child will eat a complete meal, instead of highly processed food, which eaten for a long time, has a negative impact on the child’s body.
The principles of healthy nutrition for children differ very little from those of adults. Adherence to the decalogue of proper nutrition is important for every human being. In the case of a child it is additionally an “investment” in a healthy future, i.e. proper physical and mental development, as well as shaping nutritional habits for life.
1. Eating 5 regular meals a day.
2. Drinking adequate amounts of water.
3. Eating fruits and vegetables at every meal.
4. Eating whole grain cereal products.
5. Drinking at least 4 glasses of milk.
6. Eat only lean meat, fish and eggs.
7. No sweetened beverages at all.
8. No sweets at all.
9. Exercise at least one hour a day.
10. Getting enough sleep.
Regular physical activity and keeping sweets to a minimum will help your child maintain a healthy weight.
