RAQ Training

A few extra pounds are not overweight. However, it may indicate a tendency in gain weight easily and a need for changes in diet and/or exercise. Generally a child is not considered overweight until the weight is at least 10 percent higher than what is recommended for the height and body type. Weight gain most commonly begins in childhood between the ages of 5 and 6 and during adolescence. Studies have shown that a child who is overweight between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an overweight adult.

The causes of weight gain are comlex and include genetic, biological, behavioral, and cultural factors. Weight gain occurs when a person eats more calories than the body burns up. If one parent is overweight, there is a 50 percent chance that the children also will be overweight (1). However, when both parents are overweight, the children have an 80 percent chance of being overweight. Weight gain in childhood and adolescence can be related to:

* Poor eating habits (see the article all in the Family)
* Lack of exercise (see the article Play station Generation: Childhood Obesity)
* Family history of overweight
* Medical illness
* Medications
* Stressful life events or changes
* Family and peer problems
* Low self-esteem
* Depression or other emotional problems

Health risks are associated with weight gain. Some of the risks include:
* increased risk of heart disease
* High blood pressure
* Diabetes
* breathing problems
* Trouble sleeping

Child and adolescent weight gain also is associated with increased risk of emotional problems. Teens with weight problems tend to have much lower self-esteem and be less popular with their peers. Depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder also can occur.

If the child does not have any medical conditions the only way to alleviate overweight issues is to reduce calories and exercise. Some ways for parents to assist children with overweight issues include:

* increase physical activity and have a more active lifestyle
* change eating habits
* plan meals and make better food selections and avoid junk food
* control portions and consume fewer calories
* monitor what children eat in school
* eat meals as a family around a table with conversation, instead of while watching television or at the computer
* do not use food as a reward
* limit snacking
* Exercise with your kids
* play games as a family (i.e. basketball, soccer, etc.)

When an overweight child or adolescent also has emotional problems, a hypnotherapist and personal trainer. can work with the child’s family and child to develop a plan of action, Such a plan would include reasonable weight loss goals, dietary and physical activity management, behavior modification, and family involvement, Parents of an overweight child can improve their child’s self-esteem by emphasizing the child’s strengths and positive qualities rather than just focusing on his/her weight problem.

1. American Academy of child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Fact’s for Families

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 14th, 2007 at 1:36 pm and is filed under Personal Training, Sports Hypnosis, Nutrition, Youth Athletics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.