{"id":1994,"date":"2020-04-07T12:35:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T10:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dieticiansatwork.co.za\/blog\/?p=1994"},"modified":"2020-04-07T14:35:32","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T12:35:32","slug":"money-see-monkey-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dieticiansatwork.co.za\/blog\/money-see-monkey-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Money See, Monkey Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overweight babies are often seen as cute and cuddly, but where do we draw the line with childhood obesity? What is socially acceptable, and what is not? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Childhood obesity is\none of the conditions that is increasing in my practice, and it is quite\nworrisome. According to the State of the World\u2019s Children, 2019: Children, food\nand nutrition (2019), South Africa has the highest percentage (13%) of\noverweight children under the age of five years in Eastern and Southern Africa,\n27.4% of South African children under the age of five years are stunted (too\nshort for their height), and 61% children under five years suffer from anaemia\n(iron deficiency).   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Childhood obesity may\nlead to a series of health problems such as impaired glucose tolerance,\ndiabetes, breathing problems (asthma and sleep apnoea), joint and muscle-skeletal\nache, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease and heartburn,\npsychological and social problems which includes discrimination and poor\nself-esteem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why, after looking\nat all the health problems, would you say is childhood obesity on the rise? Is\none of the latest health trends in South Africa not focused on healthy eating\nand exercise? According to De Ridder and Coetzee (2015), one of the causes is\ndue to lack of physical education in schools offered by well-trained teachers\nand Klingberg et al. (2019) states that other causes include barriers to\nhealthy behaviours (sub-optimal equipment in schools and unhealthy food items\navailable in cafeterias), high cost of healthy foods, gendered notions of\nacceptable behaviour, body image and beauty ideals. Other possible causes\ninclude the westernisation of our diets and the urbanisation of our country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we stop this\ndeadly cycle? We lead by example. Your child looks up to you as a parent \u2013\nmonkey see, monkey do. If you focus on being healthy by exercising and being\nactive, the chances are high that your child will also want to do the same. Try\nsome fun and adventurous activities over a weekend \u2013 go for a bike ride as a\nfamily, go for a hike, go to your local swimming pool and spend the day there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are the single\nbiggest influence on your child, especially when it comes to eating. You need\nto make healthy food choices as often as possible. Teach your child that\nhealthy food is still enjoyable and tastes good, even if you do not like that\nspecific food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some practical tips you can include\nin your daily routine to help your child combat obesity: <\/p>\n\n\n\n