Why is childhood obesity increasing?

If we look at end-of-the-year photos of our school days, it is likely that only two or three children in a class of forty are overweight or obese. But if you do the same for your child’s class, the number is likely to be double or even triple. This is because our children are exposed to the two scourges of modern life: junk food and television.

RELATIONSHIP OF TELEVISION WITH OBESITY IN CHILDREN

Because of the hours of television children watch and their participation in the show they watch, it plays a huge role in their lives in more ways than one. Television hours are considered to be directly proportional to levels of childhood obesity. The reasons for this are:

1. Hours of “couch time” are reducing the level of physical activity and this includes games played on cell phones, computers, and other screen activities.
2. Eating in front of the television is common and leads to eating too much or too little without thinking about the contents of the plate and the taste of the food.
3. The content of television commercials also influences the choice of food. Children ages 2 to 6 cannot distinguish between programming and advertising. Consequently, they choose their food based on the commercials they see on television. These ads are typically non-nutritious, high-calorie snacks.

There are extreme cases where morbidly obese children have been so addicted to watching television that they have soiled their pants instead of going to the bathroom and missing their favorite show.

ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION – FACTS AND FIGURES

1.) Products featured in television commercials are for high-calorie snacks and non-nutritional beverages, often with misleading information. A catchy jingle, a favorite cartoon character in the ad, a free gift all make kids conditioned to look for these foods in the supermarket or refrigerator, even when given the option to choose between different foods.

2.) Obesity levels are highest in children who watch more than two hours of television a day. For every hour of television, food consumption increases by almost 50 kcal / day (one third of the calories needed to be obese).

3.) On average, children and teens spend 30 to 50 hours each year viewing ads for unhealthy foods. Those most affected are children in the age group 7 to 12 years, who are at a crucial juncture in their lives with respect to the eating habits and eating patterns that they will establish for the rest of their lives.

In our country, no regulation of advertising content means that parents and teachers play a crucial role in guiding the correct decisions in this matter.

JUNK FOOD – A curse of modern life

A study of 4,000 Scottish children conducted by the University of London showed that children raised on a diet of junk food versus freshly cooked food had significantly lower IQs. This study also showed that the effect of junk food on IQ occurred at the age of three, as peak brain growth occurs at this age. Therefore, all parents, including those with children of normal weight, should beware of junk food.

Researchers have found that junk food produces an addiction similar to that seen in heroin and cocaine addicts. Ingesting these foods releases a chemical (neurotransmitter) called “dopamine” that is associated with the production of a sensation of pleasure. The affected person soon becomes so hooked on this pleasant sensation that they continue to eat these foods. Soon the sight, thought and memory of these foods will create a craving similar to that of addicts, producing behavior that will result in repeatedly buying and consuming these foods.

Interestingly, this phenomenon is observed not only in obese people, but also in fit people who have obese parents.

Modern parenting is fraught with more challenges than our previous generations had to deal with (who never had to deal with junk food or watching TV). Television is an integral part of our lives and will continue to be so. But the schedule and content of our children’s viewing can be changed. Junk food is unhealthy and addictive. So how often we let our kids eat junk food is also an issue that families need to address together. But the fact is, monitoring the decisions we let children make affects their future in more ways than one.