What Happened With Child Obesity After The Pandemic?

Childhood obesity has become a severe problem in our modern world. ​

Therefore, Health Start Foundation wants to bring greater awareness paired with a positive approach to the National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month every September. The goal is to create awareness of the importance of a good diet in children and adults and thus prevent obesity from an early age to avoid other types of diseases. 

 ​After the Pandemic caused by covid-19, we have faced a long-standing chronic health problem, and it doesn't look to be going anywhere anytime soon."This is the childhood obesity epidemic."  
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​More than 40% of American children for medical definition have obesity, which puts them at risk for serious health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. In addition, scientists have discovered that many adult diseases are rooted in early childhood behaviors and experiences.

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For example, studies show that children who are obese at age 8 carry a 38% chance of becoming obese adults. At age 14, that risk escalates to 80%.

​In this first year, nearly one-third of severe covid cases in children are blamed on excess weight. So why is obesity so challenging to overcome?. Whether it is a societal issue or a biological one, we can teach children from an early age how to be in control of their health.

​Societal circumstances are certainly a factor in the preference for ultra processed and aggressively marketed foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. But, it's crucial to determine why we put on the pounds in the first place and be aware that getting them off is a lot harder, linked to our evolutionary biology. Once the human body creates extra fat cells, cutting down their numbers is extremely difficult.

​To make matters worse, experts have found that social pressure around weight loss and constant bullying in schools often causes those who lose weight to rebound.

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However, HealthStart's unique, science based approach to education teaches children the "why" behind healthy behaviors, helping them connect daily with what they eat and do to their health. Evidence points to solid relationships between specific, science based understanding of the determinants of health, personal health behaviors, and the empowerment of people to make and advocate for healthy choices. 

In other words, it is not enough to merely tell people what is good for them. To create real change, individuals must also have the education to understand the "why" behind good health. That change starts by educating young children, who then influence their families' health behaviors, which then contribute to the health of their community. Also, It is important to note that Children influence up to a fifth of all household purchase decisions, yet little is known about how this influence is brought to bear. This research looks at the primary householder purchase context of grocery shopping and establishes the incidence of children accompanying adult shoppers.
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In fact, two-thirds of adults with children who responded to Packaged Facts’ survey agreed with that statement. So while parents might know what’s best for their kids, it seems that they still tend to get a little help making up their minds
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So, if your kids have been having trouble losing weight throughout the Pandemic, don't be too hard on them. Instead, encourage them to learn through science, be aware of their nutrition and follow it up. 

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