ePIP column: Child obesity and how you can tackle the problem early

ePIP Coach Lorraine confronts a major health and social issue and says there are simple ways of tackling the problems early.

Almost one in ten British children in reception classes are obese. By the time children leave primary school, this doubles to nearly one in five.

The number of obese adults living in the UK has more than trebled in the past 25 years, with 17 per cent of men and 21 per cent of women being classed as obese.

This is causing huge concern within the medical community because obesity is linked to serious health problems.

It is very important that parents encourage children to be active from an early age as this helps establish lifelong healthy habits. It is thought that large amounts of time spent in buggies and highchairs contributes to the low rate of physical activity in the under-fives and increases the risk of childhood obesity.

Babies need to have tummy time, wriggling around on play gyms, stretching for toys to help develop their muscle growth. For toddlers and older children, physical activities can include:

Hide and seek;

Running, jumping and skipping;

Stuck in the mud;

Riding a bike;

Dancing, swimming and climbing.

Obese children are more likely to experience bullying, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. They will also have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease in later life. The earlier we can encourage children to be active, the more likely they are to stay active in their teenage years and adulthood.

An adult with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 25 is classed as overweight and one with a BMI of more than 30 is obese. Always consult with your doctor about you and your child’s physical health.

We can work with you to implement different physical activities into your child’s daily routine, making them fun and inclusive for all the family to be healthy and active together.

ePiP is your local provider of personal parenting coaching. Find out more at www.epipdirect.com