Rate of child obesity soars during school break.
Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health reveals Thai children are 1 in 3 overweight and obese in ASEAN. The World Obesity Federation predicts that by 2012, 2035, the population under 20 years of age will have an average increase in ‘obesity’ of 6.2 percent per year.
This is information from the Department of Health. From the surveillance of the onset of obesity and ‘obesity’ in children by the Ministry of Public Health (Health Data Center) as of February 16, 2023, it was found that 9.13 percent of children aged 0 – 5 years had the onset of obesity and ‘obesity’. School children aged 6 – 14 years had 13.4% of being overweight and obese, and adolescents 15 – 18 years had 13.2% of being overweight and ‘obese’.
Behavior during school break that affect health
During school holidays, children’s lifestyle habits often change. less body movement Most of them spend their free time watching television. play computer games and using social media, watching clips, listening to music online
From a survey of Thai children aged 12 years by the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health in 2017, it was found that
- 50% of Thai children drink sugary drinks 1-3 days a week.
- 1 in 3 Thai children eat snacks every day.
From a survey of parents of children aged 3 – 5 years by the Institute for Population and Social Research. Mahidol University in 2020 found that
- 46.3% parents give it to their children You can drink soft drinks.
- 57.9% parents give it to their children You can eat bags of snacks.
Moreover, seeing food and drink advertisements It can stimulate children to want to buy and consume more food. until receiving more energy than necessary
What’s bad about a fat child?
Children who are overweight and obesity are often stigmatized (Weight Stigma), causing stress and shame. Lack of confidence in learning and doing activities It affects the body, mind, society, and consciousness problems. Children ufabet https://ufabet999.app who are overweight and obese are likely to be obese when they grow up to be adults. Risk of chronic non-communicable diseases (Non-communicable diseases, NCDs) include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure. Heart and blood vessel disease, cancer, etc.
Advice for parents
Parents should pay attention to the health of their children. Promote healthy behavior Eat nutritious food. Promote physical activity to prevent obesity. There are various methods as follows:
- Encourage children to run around and exercise, such as cycling, jumping rope, and doing housework.
- Do activities together as a family to reduce time spent online.
- Prepare a variety of foods from all 5 food groups. Reduce eating sweet, fatty, salty foods. Avoid processed meats such as sausages, Chinese sausages, meatballs, and ready-to-eat frozen foods.
- Control your intake of crunchy snacks, sweetened drinks, soft drinks, and bubble tea. Prepare plain milk and fruit in the refrigerator instead.
- Cultivate the habit of eating vegetables and fruits. And drink enough clean water, 6 – 8 glasses, every day.
- Teach how to read nutrition labels or health choice symbols on packaging. Make it easier for children to choose healthy snacks.
- Avoid feeding children large meals or buying snacks in oversized packages. Because the size consumed plays a very important role in the increase in body weight.
- Encourage children to go to bed and wake up at regular times. and get enough sleep 9 – 11 hours a day