Health: Weigh your risk
Your child may be eating his or her way to a future coronary heart disease.
Your child may be eating his or her way to a future coronary heart disease.
The rise of child obesity in Pakistan is directly linked to a new consumer culture and the influx of technology that entertains children with little or no physical movement. Cities across the country have also seen a boom in the fast food industry, with new burger joints and pizzerias opening by the week at every nook and corner. In comparison, there are barely any efforts to involve the youth in healthier sports.
Cultural norms show that taking children to a fast food outlet has become fashion, and in some way a status symbol. Good grades, a birthday, or a minor celebration means going out to eat to the heart’s desire, without considering caloric requirements and consequences on the child’s health.
Junk food is just as accessible at home, in fact only a call away with the option of home delivery at most restaurants and food outlets. Whether its convenience or out of habit, ordering in at home is fairly frequent too. “My children order pizza at least four times in a week. It happens because I usually reach home late and do not feel like going to the kitchen to cook something,” explains Saira Hussain, a working mother. Usman Khalid, a salesman at a famous fast food outlet in Islamabad confirms that most of their customers are of a younger age, “Seventy per cent of home delivery orders are being placed by youngsters”.
The change in eating patterns and its impact on the younger generation has led to panic among health experts. “Every Saturday, I see at least four to five children who have gained weight due to eating fatty food,” says Dr Rezzan Khan, a consultant nutritionist at Shifa International Hospital. She attributes child obesity to factors such as genetics, medical conditions, habits, lifestyle and environment. With an alarming number of cases turning up at the nutritionist’s clinic, Khan feels there is a dire need to educate parents on eating healthy and the importance of a balanced diet for children. “While planning lunch box items for their children, parents should opt for food which is nutritious and not fatty. Teachers should keep an eye on what the students are bringing in their lunch boxes.”
Her youngest obese patient is a two-year-old boy who weighs 50kg. “He is unable to stand on his feet due to a heavy body and leans against the wall when walking.” Being obese not only weighs down a child mentally and physically but also puts them at risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, constipation, joint pain, cardiovascular diseases and colon cancer in the future.
The average caloric requirement of a child aged between five to ten years of age is 1,600 calories per day and increases to 1,800 calories per day for ages between 13-15 years. This can be maintained through a well-balanced daily diet including fresh fruits, vegetables, two wheat rotis, one glass of milk, one egg, dairy products and five to six ounces of meat (either mutton or chicken). Allowing room for fun, Khan says, “Fast food can be given just once a week.”
According to health experts, encouraging children to exercise, play outdoor games or take up an activity like swimming, for half an hour every day instead of sitting in front of a computer or television can help reduce the risk of obesity drastically.
Sehrish Wasif is an Islamabad-based reporter for The Express Tribune. She tweets@SehrishWasif
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, January 19th, 2014.
Cultural norms show that taking children to a fast food outlet has become fashion, and in some way a status symbol. Good grades, a birthday, or a minor celebration means going out to eat to the heart’s desire, without considering caloric requirements and consequences on the child’s health.
Junk food is just as accessible at home, in fact only a call away with the option of home delivery at most restaurants and food outlets. Whether its convenience or out of habit, ordering in at home is fairly frequent too. “My children order pizza at least four times in a week. It happens because I usually reach home late and do not feel like going to the kitchen to cook something,” explains Saira Hussain, a working mother. Usman Khalid, a salesman at a famous fast food outlet in Islamabad confirms that most of their customers are of a younger age, “Seventy per cent of home delivery orders are being placed by youngsters”.
The change in eating patterns and its impact on the younger generation has led to panic among health experts. “Every Saturday, I see at least four to five children who have gained weight due to eating fatty food,” says Dr Rezzan Khan, a consultant nutritionist at Shifa International Hospital. She attributes child obesity to factors such as genetics, medical conditions, habits, lifestyle and environment. With an alarming number of cases turning up at the nutritionist’s clinic, Khan feels there is a dire need to educate parents on eating healthy and the importance of a balanced diet for children. “While planning lunch box items for their children, parents should opt for food which is nutritious and not fatty. Teachers should keep an eye on what the students are bringing in their lunch boxes.”
Her youngest obese patient is a two-year-old boy who weighs 50kg. “He is unable to stand on his feet due to a heavy body and leans against the wall when walking.” Being obese not only weighs down a child mentally and physically but also puts them at risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, constipation, joint pain, cardiovascular diseases and colon cancer in the future.
The average caloric requirement of a child aged between five to ten years of age is 1,600 calories per day and increases to 1,800 calories per day for ages between 13-15 years. This can be maintained through a well-balanced daily diet including fresh fruits, vegetables, two wheat rotis, one glass of milk, one egg, dairy products and five to six ounces of meat (either mutton or chicken). Allowing room for fun, Khan says, “Fast food can be given just once a week.”
According to health experts, encouraging children to exercise, play outdoor games or take up an activity like swimming, for half an hour every day instead of sitting in front of a computer or television can help reduce the risk of obesity drastically.
Sehrish Wasif is an Islamabad-based reporter for The Express Tribune. She tweets@SehrishWasif
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, January 19th, 2014.