Prevent childhood obesity: "It is essential that healthy nutritional habits are promoted from an early age"

The epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents is a reality in the world.

And Spain does not escape from it.

Antonio Mas, a doctor specializing in endocrinology and nutrition, explains that, according to a recent study (ENPE study) published by the Spanish Society of Cardiology, it is estimated that more than 30% of children and young people are overweight or obese.

“Specifically, 34% are overweight and approximately 10% are obese.

In addition, it is worth highlighting a 16% prevalence of abdominal obesity, the type of obesity associated with the most cardiovascular complications ”, says the expert.

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According to Mas, in both children and adults, obesity means excess fat in the body: “However, as this is difficult to measure, in practice we use weight-based tools.

Specifically, in children we diagnose obesity when the BMI (body mass index) is greater than or equal to the 95th percentile or greater than 2 standard deviations from the mean for age and sex ”.

Cristian Sierra Bernal, specialist in diagnostic and therapeutic Digestive Endoscopy, as well as in the endoscopic treatment of obesity, adds that this is a chronic and especially serious disease: “It can affect life-long, but we must pay special interest in the early stages of it (childhood and adolescence).

By definition, childhood obesity is an excess of the expected weight for the child's age and height, conditioned by an excess of fat accumulated in the body (adipose tissue) ”.

As this expert explains, as the severity of obesity increases, so does the risk of suffering from “high blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and so on.

And although children do not usually present these comorbidities, the problem is that they will also have a greater risk of suffering them in adulthood.

The current pandemic situation has increased the cases of childhood obesity.

“Confinement, which has led to the limitation of mobility and our own physical activity, has kept the little ones away from their educational centers and extracurricular activities.

This has been replaced by recreational activities related to technology and greater exposure to screens, generally sedentary activities ”, highlights Sierra.

“Although I could not say exact data.

It is true that confinement has negatively affected the weight of children and adults.

In the first place due to the lack of physical activity ”, Mas has an impact.

"But also", he continues, "also due to psychological issues, such as increased anxiety and lack of pleasant stimuli that have made us seek pleasure in food and a greater number of opportunities to screw up nutritionally by being at home all day ”.

Difference between obesity and overweight

For Mas, being overweight could be understood as the "previous step" to obesity.

Although there is excess fat in the body, unlike obesity, it still does not interfere with its optimal functioning.

While obesity can interfere with the functioning of the body.

If there is no change in habits, it is only a matter of time to go from overweight to obesity.

Sierra explains that being overweight is the lowest degree of excess weight and therefore poses a lower risk of complications.

Being overweight does not always lead to obesity.

“The word

is

always

too categorical.

I'd say it's natural evolution if no action is taken.

Given the diagnosis of overweight, it is the right time to intervene in the habits, both of eating and of physical activity, and to achieve a normal weight and thus reverse the advance towards obesity ”, says Mas.

For Sierra, the correlation between overweight and obesity is not binding: “Not necessarily, although they are obviously related.

In the end, the causes of the problem are the same, although they act with different intensity ”.

Both experts explain key points of childhood obesity and how it affects the daily routine of children and young people who suffer from it.

Latest studies assure that the important thing to combat obesity is to change the diet of children, what do we do wrong?

How should it be

?

Current living conditions favor a sedentary lifestyle and leisure activities related to technology (television, tablets, computers, video game consoles, etc.) that require little energy expenditure.

"In addition, the growing supply of foods rich in carbohydrates and fats, enhanced by advertising campaigns, leads to a greater consumption of them (fast food and ultra-processed foods)," argues Sierra.

“It is essential that from the early stages of life”, he continues, “healthy nutritional habits are promoted and physical activity is stimulated in children, since in childhood family influence plays a relevant role, because generally children learn by imitation and these practices persist into adulthood, "he adds.

"Obviously there are many factors involved, although if I had to highlight one I would say the excessive intake of processed products, full of refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats," says Mas.

“These products hide a dangerous secret: they are irresistible to us, they are cheap and convenient to consume (something we love as parents) and, to top it off, the industry makes sure they are ubiquitous.

That is to say, a deadly combination.

The ideal thing would be to make a diet based on seasonal products: fruit, vegetables, legumes, healthy fats, such as nuts and olive oil… In other words, a diet that is as natural as possible, such as the Mediterranean diet, for example ” , explains this expert.

What is the importance of frequently practicing physical activity?

It is a fundamental pillar to keep the functions of the body intact.

"Not only does it condition the weight of children, it has been described that there is the release of some hormones and neurotransmitters that act by regulating various functions such as growth and development of children, the circadian cycle, metabolism, coordination and ability to concentrate" , points out Sierra.

For Mas, physical activity is the magic pill: “It protects the heart, the joints and increases the feeling of energy and happiness among many other benefits.

As for obesity, it provides benefits in all phases of the problem: it helps to prevent it, to treat it, and once weight loss has been achieved to avoid its long-term recovery ”.

Apart from health, could childhood obesity affect the little ones in terms of concentration and school performance?

"Yes, without a doubt," Sierra says resoundingly.

"Parents are the main protagonists in this section."

For him, “the nutrition of the little ones depends mainly on the habits practiced at home: childhood obesity is often associated with the consumption of foods rich in refined sugars that have little contribution of other essential nutrients (amino acids and trace elements) that are essential for full brain function ”.

"Yes, I have read a study that points in that direction", continues Mas, "in fact, in adults, the relationship between obesity and different psychological problems is widely demonstrated".

At the moment, according to the expert, “we know that there is a statistical association although it is yet to be confirmed whether it is a cause-and-effect relationship.

In other words, it could be that the same problems that cause obesity are the ones behind the problems of school performance ”.

A latest study concludes

that there is a link between obesity and sensory processing in children, what do you think of these results?

“Being overweight and obese as a result of an excess of calories is not synonymous with an adequate supply of essential nutrients (amino acids, trace elements, vitamins, cofactors).

Generally, foods with the highest caloric content are those with the least nutritional value, ”Sierra explains.

The deficit of nutrients conditions an inadequate functioning of the organism, “in all its aspects, including the sensory system.

However, rigorous scientific research is needed to demonstrate a direct relationship with obesity ”, concludes this expert.

"Without a doubt it is an interesting working hypothesis, but one that we must look at with caution, since they are preliminary studies whose results have yet to be confirmed", concludes Mas.

The ideal daily meal schedule

Although there is no ideal meal time for children, we can establish some basic rules.

As a general rule, it is advisable to eat a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5-6 meals a day, adapting to family dynamics and the child's preferences.

The best intake schedule is the one that adapts to nature, that is, it is better to eat and dine early, while there is light.

We must encourage regular schedules although we can be flexible.

Snacking between meals should be avoided, especially of unhealthy processed products.

Never force a child to eat.

Remember that they control their appetite better than adults and they have the right to refuse a food.

Of course, we must avoid offering him an alternative that he likes "just so he can eat."

We must offer them all kinds of food and act as an example by eating a healthy diet ourselves.

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