Recent researches have shown that family behaviors can have a major impact on the weight of preschool children. Something as simple as dining together with family, can help child fight obesity. Along with this other things like sleeping timings, watching TV habits and daily routine can play a marvelous role to get rid of extra body mass.
According to the College of Public Health at Ohio State University in Columbus, as Sarah Anderson an assistant professor narrates that a four year child who regularly eats dinner with family, gets enough sleep and watches less than two hours of TV is likely to be 40% less obsess.
As Anderson says in one of his studies, that these routines suggested by counselors also have other benefits too, apart from obesity control, but in the views of pediatricians and other clinicians, there are no hard and fast treatments for obesity, that’s why prevention is very important.
The research undertaken carried about 8000, four year old children, along with one of their parents, who were there to answer different questions about the family routines and behaviors of their child. Around 18% children were found to be obese, which shows that their body mass index is greater than 95th percentile of other children of their age and gender.
It was found that when 14 percent of the children were exposed to all the three behaviors on regular basis i-e eating the evening meal, getting 10 hours sleep per night, and watching less than two hours of TV per day; the following results were found. Experts found that children exposed to these three behaviors had 14 percents obesity rate. Where as those children who were not exposed to any of these three behaviors experienced 24 percent obesity rate. Experts were of the opinion that these findings were correct and true even if the other factors like maternal obesity, race, gender, socioeconomic status which may affect obesity were controlled.
Anderson pointed that there was a deep link between these three behaviors and child’s obese nature. Some simple steps can surely contribute to change the health environment of your home and your children. These steps will not only help to prevent obesity, but also bring out healthy changes in the behavior and cognitive development of your child. According to pediatricians these are great changes if practiced practically.
Anderson was of the opinion that if it is impossible to practice all of the three behaviors, even then you don’t need to worry, as only one of the three behaviors if practiced properly can show difference and effect. As each of the routines is related to lower risk of obesity. So choose one of them and you can experience results and success. One of the participants was of the opinion that it can be hard to properly follow the behaviors, but on at the same time it was insisted for parents to make such behaviors as top priority. It was said that in case it was difficult to eat together five times a week, than at least it should be made three times. Also it was emphasized to remove TV from children’s room which would help limiting the sitting time and getting enough time for sleep.