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ROLY - POLY BABY not in vogue
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Obesity in children leads to unhappy, unhealthy adults. LEELA MENON delves into the reasons behind this trend and finds that parents are responsible to a great extent.
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THAT CUTE chubby darling whom you proudly dote on can turn into an obese miniature giant as he totes the school bag and steps into the class room, inviting peer ridicule and ostracism, generating low self-esteem, withdrawal from social activities and even suicidal attempts.
Obsesity, especially in children, which was once a Western phenomenon is now very much part of the Indian and Malayali ethos, causing concern in paediatricians and child psychologists alike. Predictably, it figured in the recently concluded paediatricians conference. That bias exists towards obsese children was confirmed by Janet Latner, P.hd. of the University of Canterbury
in New Zealand and Albert Stunkard,MD of the University of Pensylvania as far back as 1961.
A 2003 study, conducted at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine also reinforces the fact that obese children do get teased by peers and as a result develop low self-image and self esteem and even contemplate suicide more often. Obese kids tend to get socially isolated and confined to the periphery of social networks than normal-weight peers. The power of the group can wield significant leverage at least in the short term. This not the sole problem confronted by the obese, they are mobile invitations to a disastrous health profile,_inviting insulin-resistance, Diabetes, hyper-cholesterolemia, hyper tension, stroke, cardiac diseases, respiratory problems, degeneration of joints due to overweight and infertility, apart from psychological problems like anxiety and depression. There are also other associated debilitating conditions like hyper thyroidism.
What parents don't realise is the ultimate cost of their mindless indulgence. The West estimates that the obsesity-related health care costs Rs.117 billion dollars a year. When the
body mass index (BMI) increases to 120 per cent it is obesity.
A mismatch between physiology and environment could be the reason. Environment provides tasty bites everywhere while physiology tempts indulgence. When this scenario combines with
lack of physical activity the kilos can mount.
Parents in Kerala first queue up at the paediatrician's seeking means to fatten their
child. Later the very same parents come, asking for cures to curb the obsesity, remarks Dr.Abraham Paul, paediatrician at Cochin Hospital and former president of IAP.(Kerala). Obese children are fashioned by mothers during the first ten months of their infancy.
Size does matter, as the obese children realise as they turn to obese adults, confronting a reflexive
social bias. Even health therapists and health professionals harbour hidden biases towards their
obese patients, often using words as `lazy', `stupid' and `worthless' to describe the obese.
What are the causes for obesity?
There are other factors involved too, even though it does begin with overindulgent mothers who want to fatten their offspring at any cost, feeding them calorie-rich food even when they are not hungry. The first lesson a mother should learn is to feed the child only when it is hungry. Mothers offer the bottle to pacify a fretful child and early introduction of high calorie diet a la TV ads can breed obesity as food intake before TV can be higher, says Dr.Paul.
Just 100 calories above the needed quota can result in a five kg of fat increase a year. Infancy is a critical period and excess feeding can increase the fat cells, especially when there is less utilisation of the body fuel, adds Dr.Paul.
Of course obsesity can be genetic as well, especially maternal obesity, which is inherited. The cure of course is not medication but a decrease in calorie intake through diet, increase in dietary fibre,
regular aerobics, less TV and computer games, which automatically eliminates outdoor exercises, depriving them of the love of nature, the thrill of games, the healthful peer interaction. However, a TV no-no is easier said than done, especially in this TV_fixated adult scenario and computer-games addicted teenage social milieu.
The malady is environment-related which means every facet of modern lifestyle. The convenience-food industry which rages a battle for the consumers taste buds is a major culprit. Eating out has social cachet and more families, with children in tow eat out, make a beeline for the bouffet table, sending shivers down owners' spines. Especially when the youth wander in to devouring huge portions of everything, especially the desserts. Adding to their wasteline.
Since obesity is indeed a lifestyle syndrome behavioural modification has to begin in the family,
with parents observing discipline in eating. Feeding a child in front of the TV is disastrous as quantity consumed before the idiot box tends to be more, especially the consumption of fried snacks together, a family habit. Besides, a recent Seattle study has warned that exposure of children below the age of two to TV and its rays can harm the brain cells.
Consumption of fast food is also part of modern lifestyle and fast food fried in repeatedly used oil
spells disaster for the obese-prone.
According to Dr.Paul obesity is more common in high socio-economic groups. And weight management in children targets the overweight or those at risk of obesity. Parents often find themselves in a catch-22 situation either overindulge or control which can cause
food binges. Psychologists have begun to suggest behavioural interventions, according to Clinical
Psychologist Dr.Prakash Chandran. They are nutritional education and self-monitoring, step-wise
goal setting, praise and other rewards and critically establishing parental support and modelling of good eating behaviour. Parental attitude MUST change if we are to have a healthy Generation Next.
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