Another factor which has been proven to be linked to obesity is breast-feeding. Children that are breast-fed are less likely to become obese than bottle-fed infants. ("Further..." 2003) Other reasons cited for the increase in obesity among children is a lack of education (such as mandatory physical education programs) and a lack of safe places to exercise in urban areas. (Michael & Styne 1999)
The best approach to treating childhood obesity is to prevent it by all means possible. Parents must not overfeed infants, which is a common mistake that leads to a lifelong habit. (Moran 1999) "Increasing physical activity and practical nutritional knowledge through education in schools or through extracurricular programs should be an obvious first step that may require legislative action." (Johnsen 2003) if the child is already overweight, a comprehensive weight management program needs to be instated. Setting reasonable and healthy goals, dietary management such as keeping records of food consumed, increasing physical activity, behavior modification, and family involvement are the five elements of a successful weight loss plan. (Moran 1999) it is important to remember that weight maintenance during growth is more important than weight loss because the child is still growing, and this is the most commonly recommended strategy for prepubescent children. ("Review..." 1998) Television viewing and other stationary activities should be limited, and healthy food choices should be made available to the child. Consulting a professional child psychologist and/or dietitian for assistance is a good idea in many situations as the child may have mental or emotional problems that are causing or being caused by the obesity, and a doctor can provide overall health information.
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Moran, R. (1999, February 15) Evaluation and treatment of childhood history. American Family Physician. Retrieved on November 20, 2004, at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_1999_Feb_15/ai_54113331
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