Lai Fuping, a pediatrician at Xin Lou Hospital, said obesity should be regarded as a chronic disease that requires continuous treatment and control. (Photo: Provided by Xinlou Hospital)
[Reporter Wang Junzhong/Tainan Report]In recent years, obesity has become a major health issue faced by all parts of the world. A pediatrician at Xinlou Hospital pointed out: According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 billion people in the world are obese, and the number continues to increase. The Ministry of Health and Welfare of our country also estimates that the obesity rate among elementary and junior high school students in Taiwan is high, and proposes 7 indicators to effectively reduce the weight of children.
Lai Fuping, the attending pediatrician at Xinlou Hospital, warned that 1 in 4 elementary school students in Taiwan meets the definition of overweight or obese; and 1 in 3 junior high school students is overweight or obese. The obesity rate among children and adolescents in Taiwan is rise. The general screening tool for obesity is to measure height and weight, and then calculate the body mass index (BMI).
Lai Fuping said bluntly that most parents would not seek medical advice specifically because of their children’s obesity. According to recent research, up to 80% of people who were obese as children will continue to be obese when they grow up. The core problem is not only the appearance, but also the children. Health risks, chronic diseases that were traditionally thought to only appear in adults, have gradually emerged in children in recent years. High blood pressure, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and sleep apnea have all begun to appear in children.
Lai Fuping, a pediatrician at Xin Lou Hospital, said obesity should be regarded as a chronic disease that requires continuous treatment and control. (Photo: Provided by Xinlou Hospital)
Lai Fuping believes that the mental health of obese children is also facing serious threats. Due to their obese appearance, they are easily ostracized or bullied by their peers, and may feel low self-esteem and depression. If children remain obese as they grow up, they are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, infertility, type 2 diabetes, and death. Fortunately, these health problems can be improved through appropriate weight loss.
Dr. Lai advocates that obesity should be regarded as a chronic disease, which means that this problem requires continuous attention, treatment and control, not just a temporary effort or short-term weight loss. She made 7 suggestions regarding childhood obesity.
1. Family involvement and support:Parents should work with their children on healthy eating, exercise and lifestyle adjustments. When family members work together, the success rate of weight loss will be greatly improved;
2. Healthy diet:There are currently no special dietary recommendations for children, but following My Plate is a good nutritional strategy;
3.Regular exercise:Not only does exercise help with weight loss, it’s also good for your child’s overall health. It is recommended that children over 6 years old exercise at least 1 hour a day.
4. Limit screen time:Screen time should be limited to less than one hour per day for children ages 2-5, and to less than two hours for older children;
5. Limit your intake of sugary drinks:This includes juices and sports drinks, with water or low-fat milk being better choices;
6. Get enough sleep:Good sleep patterns help with weight management and overall health;
7. Long-term management:Weight loss is not a short-term goal, but long-term health management.
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