Child Obesity Chart

Child obesity has been increasing everywhere in an alarming rate. Pediatricians have shown the fact that there is a remarkable increase in the number of obesity related diseases in the case of children. Obesity can cause various diseases like asthma, hypertension, and diabetes. When people consider that overweight or obese people are at much higher risks for developing severe health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes, it is easy to see why it is so important to understand the causes of obesity in children. Perhaps by learning what can actually cause the condition, parents and health care providers can go far in preventing and treating the disordered condition before it becomes a bigger health risk.

A child obesity chart is a chart of body weight and height of the child as per his developmental stages. Every child of 4-6 months, these physical measurements are taken by the doctor and recorded in the chart. Then the chart of the physical growth is studied so as to make sure if the weight of the child is in proportion with their height. The child obesity chart is mostly like a double-edged sword. This chart can have the great advantages as well as the same time it could prove to be a threat to mental health of children.

Obesity in children does really not increase overnight. It can be gradually be identified earlier and prevented by using appropriate measures. The parents should always keep a watch on the children eating habits. Also the parents should maintain a child obesity chart as per instructed by the family doctor. The doctors should take the height and weight measurements of a child at every three months, and updated the obesity chart. If the doctor notices any abnormality in the chart, it should be brought to the notice of the parents. Suppose a doctor sees a considerable imbalance in the weight growth, he should suggest appropriate physical exercise patterns to the children. Thus by following the child obesity chart, doctors can control child obesity issues by identifying them at an early stage. If all of the doctors and parents follow this procedure, the next two years will show a drastic change in the child obesity cases.

Also the child obesity chart, at the same time, can have a negative influence on the mind of children. A child would be always conscious of his or her own weight and this might act as a mental barrier to him or her. The child may isolate him or her self from the society and hence develop a depression. Focusing too much on excess weight issues can be embarrassing for the child and would act as negative influence on the child. In today's society, being skinny is seen as ideal. There is too much focus on body weight losing which acts a negative influence on the children. Also sometimes excess body weight gain occurs due to growth in height of a child. In such conditions parents and children need not worry, as they weight should be in proportion to their height. Proper medical guidance should be given to these children otherwise it would lead to unnecessary stress to parents and children.

• Felicia Byrnes
• 19/01/2009, 4:59 AM
• 0 Comments