Baby Fat

Now wait just a minute. What is going on here?

The Oasis has been following all the latest obesity epidemic news, but I just ran across a story that has my head spinning...

the obesity epidemic has spread to babies!

So called "chubby" babies used to be thought of as cute...but not anymore. In a new study, publised online in the journal Obesity, researchers found that the incidence of obesity has risen for all children, and that even includes infants. And just in case you think that fat babies are a problem for poor families who may not get the best nutritional advice, think again. The rates of overweight are increasing in children from mostly middle class families.

So what's going on here?

In another study, researchers found that obese mothers spent less time feeding and interacting with their infants than those of normal weight. These mothers also fed their babies more calorie rich food. This study however, was very small, but the results are provocative and certainly call for more thorough research.

Why should we be so alarmed about a little baby fat?

If a child is obese early in life, that obesity tends to stay with him or her later in life, putting the child at risk for all kinds of health problems. The British Medical Journal reports that there are eight factors that increase a child's chance of being obese by age 7:

1) Having obese parents
2) High birth weight
3) Spending more than eight hours watching TV when 3 years old
4) Sleeping less than 10.5 hours per night when 3 years old
5) Size in early life
6) Rapid weight gain in the first year of life
7) Rapid catch-up growth between birth and 2 years
8) Early development of body fatness during the preschool years (before age 5-6 years, when body fat should be increasing)

Tip from your Wellness Coach: Parents can modify some of these factors by watching their own body weight, making sure their children get adequate sleep, providing proper nutrition and encouraging physical activity for the entire family. Start early  by modeling healthy behavior for your children. If you are not sure if your child is at a healthy weight, consult the child's pediatrician.

Comments

[Ameda Ultra]

this is really interesting, thank you for the post, I am impressed, keep posting like this.

[Ergo Baby Carrier]

Some children tend to eat what they find, so it becomes of utmost importance to put a watchful eye on them if we really want to keep them healthy. Ergo baby carriers are one way of looking at it!