Childhood Obesity Influences

The prevalence of childhood obesity has risen greatly worldwide, along with an alarming increase in various metabolic disorders, which stems largely from excessive energy intake that leads to physical inactivity in children. Although the relationship between physical activity and obesity is controversial, physical activity is hypothesized to protect children from the development of obesity. Healthy eating patterns in childhood promote optimal childhood health, growth, and intellectual development, along with prevention from immediate health problems and somehow long-term health problems too. As a child it is easy to maintain weight and eat healthy as compared to doing this after growing an adult because it will make it harder to regularly incorporate these habits into their lives. …show more content…
Genetics plays a role in becoming overweight or obese, but a family's lifestyle also has a major impact on the chances of a child winding up overweight, because the influence of family and friends is a major mechanism in effecting change in children. Genetics and social environment have great influences on obesity because obesity literature is reviewed in light of family characteristics. It is most important to teach children about weight issues and interest them in adopting a healthy lifestyle, because unless they realize how essential it is to prevent obesity they will not properly exercise and may not be willing to adopt a healthy lifestyle. In order to teach children, it is necessary to educate parents, who are the key players in the life of children and are responsible to provide children a healthy environment and adopt a healthy lifestyle, about this epidemic and prevention