Obesity in Kids- What cause it?

Well, heredity and hormones can be a reason for obesity in kids but in most of the cases the causes of obesity in kids are overeating & under-exercising. Kids need extra calories for their growth & development but it does not mean that they start over-eating. This will only accumulate lots of fat instead of energy. Their diet should be in appropriate proportion to boost them up with extra energy. If your kid is having more calories than he/she is burning then the outcome will only be the obesity. Obesity in kids may caused by various factors, such as-

Obesity in Kids- What cause it?

· Dietary habits

Unhealthy diet & eating too much of high-calorie foods stuff (such as fast foods, candies, cookies, chips, baked food etc.) plays vital role for obesity in kids. Having snacks throughout the day without doing any physical activities also cause obesity in kids. The parents are advised to pay special attention to their kids’ diet. They should add healthy food (including fresh vegetable, fruits, milk products etc.) instead of unhealthy food. 

· Lack of calorie burning activities

This is another big reason for obesity in kids. Televisions, computers, laptops, mobile phones, video games etc. have taken the place of physical activities. Now kids love to spend more time on these devices instead of playing outdoor games. In this way, the kids burn only few calories and the result would be “Obesity in Kids”. The parents are advised to manage some time from their busy schedule and enjoy playing outdoor games with their kids. This will build interest in your kids and they will burn more calories doing physical activities.

· Surrounding

If you store unhealthy food stuff (such as chips, pizza, burger, candy bars etc.) in refrigerator or kitchen then your kid will have these options open for him/her what they want to eat. Instead of keeping this kind of unhealthy food, you can keep fresh cut-up fruits, salad, low-fat curd etc. so that when your kid opens up the refrigerator he/she will have these healthy options available to eat. Maintain a good balance in healthy diet and your kid’s wish to eat. 

· Psychological causes

Psychology shows the states of mind. Sometimes kids gain weight due to some psychological factors (such as family problems, negative emotions, stress, anxiety, boredom etc.). They start eating more to cope with these situations. You being parents should always support your kid in any kind of situation. 

· Hereditary causes

Sometimes obesity in kids is hereditary. If a kid has born in a family where people are overweight then the chances are there for the kid to become overweight. The chances become stronger if the kid is more exposed to high-calorie food stuff and not encouraged for physical activities. 

· Medical conditions

However it is rare but there are few hereditary diseases & hormonal disorders that can cause obesity in kids such as Hypothyroidism (related to thyroid gland), Prader-Willi Syndrome (Affected part of brain that controls hunger) and Cushing ’s syndrome (hormonal disorder). 

· Lack of proper sleep

The studies have shown that kids who do not sleep for recommended hours are more likely to become obese. Proper sleep is very important for everyone of us and so for kids as well to stay fit and healthy.