Why
have I been told my child is overweight/obese? My child does not look
overweight
or obese.
Today,
many more of us - adults and children - are above the weight that
we should be to remain healthy and happy. There are many reasons for
this. However, one result of the fact that we as a society are
getting larger is that we have lost sight of what a healthy weight
actually looks like, because we are now used to seeing larger people
and we compare ourselves and our children to others around us.
Another
result of us getting larger is that there has been a great deal of
media attention relating to
obesity which has tended to focus on some of the most extreme cases
of obesity in the world, rather than the "everyday" weight
problems that we and our children are facing, and this has distorted
our thinking.
Because
of the above, it is sometimes difficult for us to recognise weight
concerns, particularly in our own children. However, weight can
become a huge problem for children in terms of their physical and
emotional health. If your child is overweight or obese, the best
thing to do for them is to be open to the fact that they will need
your support in changing behaviour to achieve a healthy weight now
and for their future.
CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Are
genes the main cause of obesity?
No.
Some people may have a genetic predisposition towards obesity, but
the reality is that many, many more of us are overweight or obese
than used to be the case - and our genes haven't changed. Even
those who do have a genetic predisposition to obesity will not
definitely become and remain overweight or obese. We should never
give up trying to adopt and maintain the lifestyles that will help us
and our children achieve a healthy weight.
Why
are some children obese or overweight?
At
its simplest level, children (and adults) can become overweight or
obese because, over a period of time, they move about too little and
eat too much. Eating "too much" can mean having portions that are
too big, snacking too much, or having too much of the food (and
drink) that is high in calories. As a society, many of us are eating
more than we should. High-energy food is readily available. Most of
us are also far less active than we used to be - we tend to drive
everywhere rather than walk, and stay inside more. Because of this,
lots and lots of us - adults and children - are now overweight or
obese. Maintaining a healthy weight is a lot harder than it used to
be.
Weight
problems can begin at a very early age and it is important that we
don't ignore this, as this is just storing up health problems for
the future. Children with weight problems can develop very low
self-esteem and become depressed. We need to be doing everything we
can to stop children developing weight problems in the first place,
and helping them adopt healthier lifestyles to reduce their weight if
they do become overweight.
TACKLING CHILDHOOD OBESITY
What
can I do to help my child be more physically active?
To
be healthy, children need to do at least one hour of physical
activity every day. Children who are overweight need to do more than
this. An hour's activity every day may sound difficult to achieve.
One of the best ways to ensure regular activity is to build this into
the school day, by encouraging your child to cycle or walk at least
part of the way to school each day or most days of the week. Joining
in with them is a great way of sharing quality time with them and
keeping fit yourself. Other ways are devoting some regular time to
family activities at evenings and weekends and limiting the amount of
time that children are allowed to spend in front of the TV or
computer - children who spend the most time in front of the TV tend
to be those who are most overweight.
My
child isn't the sporty type and won't take part in anything
sporty.
Not
all children enjoy taking part in traditional sports and this can
particularly be the case for those who are conscious of their weight.
The most important thing is to find activities that your child finds
fun. This doesn't have to be football or netball. Any activity that
gets a child slightly out of breath counts - for example, walking
at a good pace, playing with pets or dancing.
It's
also important to realise that the one hour of physical activity a
day that is recommended for children (and the 30 minutes most days
for adults) does not need to be continuous. It can be made up of
short bursts of activity that add up to 60 minutes, for example, two
15-minute walks to and from school a day, and 30 minutes of activity
in the park in the evening for a child, or for an adult, 15 minutes
playing with your child and 15 minutes doing housework.
My
child constantly snacks on crisps, chocolates and fizzy drinks. How
do I stop him/her?
There
is room within a healthy balanced diet for your child to enjoy the
occasional unhealthy snack. When these foods are forming part of the
everyday diet it is time to try some changes. Most of us would
benefit from reducing the amount of salt, sugar and saturated fat in
our diets, so try to gradually replace foods high in these with
healthier options - for example, water instead of fizzy drinks on
most days, or fruit instead of chocolate and crisps for snacking. The
best thing to do is introduce your child gradually to a range of
different, healthier meals and snacks and then just persist - it can take
children a long time to get used to tastes that are unfamiliar.
Are
children who don't get enough sleep more likely to be obese when
they grow up?
Some
studies have found a relationship between sleep problems in childhood
and weight in adulthood. However, there is no clear evidence to show
that the two are directly related.
PROFESSIONAL HELP
How
do I know if I need counselling/psychotherapy?
Only
you can decide whether you wish to try counselling or psychotherapy.
Just talking to someone confidentially who is not a friend or family
member can make all the difference. Counselling or psychotherapy
provides a regular time for those in distress to explore their
feelings and talk about their problems. A counsellor should help you
develop better ways of coping, allowing you to live the life you
deserve.
How
do I know if I need to see a Dietitian or speak to a Nutritional
Therapist?
Some
of us would just like to have more energy or simply to feel better.
Nutritional advice from either profession can help clients to improve
their overall health by looking at what their body really needs, in
terms of food and nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. This is
achieved by careful analysis of a client's diet, lifestyle and
general state of health.
The
reason for seeing a dietitian or nutritional therapist may be simple
as wanting help with what to put on your child's plate for every
meal, and advice on portion sizes appropriate to your child's age
and size.
What
should I expect from a treatment session with a professional?
Some
professionals will request you to fill in a short questionnaire prior
to your first session. This is optional, but may help you think about
the problems you want to discuss. This can be done together with or
independently from your child. If you're not asked to complete
something like this, it may be beneficial to write down your concerns
and feelings and any questions you may want to ask the practitioner.
You may also be asked to bring along any medication and/or
supplements that your child currently takes, to help provide a
complete evaluation of your child's current state of mind and
health.
A
professional will usually see you and/or your child in a private
office at a convenient location. The office will be a comfortable and
quiet environment for you to talk. Your professional will tell you
about the confidentiality of your session and then ask questions to
get a clearer understanding of your situation. This whole process
helps you to gain experience of working with a professional and is
also the first step in developing trust between the two of you. Many
clients feel a sense of relief after their first session. This may be
because the initial nervousness of the unknown has gone or because a
weight has been lifted by beginning a process that will hopefully
lead to a better life.
How
long will a treatment session last?
A
normal session may last between 45-60 minutes, but expect your first
session to last longer than normal, as your practitioner will need a
little longer to accurately assess your situation and gain an
understanding of your reasons for attending.
How
much will a treatment session cost?
A
private practitioner will charge anywhere between £25 to £50 per
session and this will be dependent upon their location, experience,
qualifications and, in some cases, dependent upon your own personal
circumstances. It's always worth asking your professional if they
offer concessions for circumstances.
We
feel nervous, is this normal?
It's
normal to feel a little nervous at your first session and your
professional will understand and be used to this. Remember this is
the first step towards a healthier, happier lifestyle.
NB
Some of these topics and answers have been taken directly from the
NHS document - Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives.
What do all the initials stand for?
Listed below
are some of the Professional Member Bodies.
These bodies regulate practitioners to adhere to a strict code of
ethics. This list is not exhaustive and
is checked and updated on a regular basis.
AAMET Association for the Advancement of
Meridian Energy Techniques
AIP Association
of Independent Psychotherapists
ALTT Association
of Light Touch Therapists
ANLP Association
for Neuro Linguistic Programming
ARH Alliance
of Registered Homeopaths
BABCP British Association for Behavioural
& Cognitive Psychotherapies
BACP British
Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BANT British
Association for Nutritional Therapy
BDA British Dietetic Association
BMA British
Medical Association
BPS British
Psychological Society
BSCHP British Society of Clinical Hypnosis
CNM College
of Naturopathic Medicine
CPC Counsellors
& Psychotherapists in Primary Care (part of the UKCP)
CPD Continued
Professional Development
CS Counselling
Society
CThA Complementary
Therapists Association
ECI European
Coaching Institute
EDA Eating
Disorders Association
FHT Federation
of Holistic Therapists
GHR General
Hypnotherapy Register
FNTP Federation
of Nutritional Therapy Practitioners
GNI Guild
of Naturopathic Iridologists International
IPTI Independent
Professional Therapists International
ISMA International
Stress Management Association
LEA Local
Education Authority
NCH National
Council for Hypnotherapy
NRHP National
Register for Hypnotherapists
NMC Nursing
& Midwifery Council
PCHVA Health Visitors Association
PCT Primary
Care Trust
RCN Royal
College of Nursing
RSH Royal
Society of Health
RC PSYCH Royal College of Psychiatrists
SEA Society
for Existential Analysis
UKAHPP United Kingdom Assoc. of Humanistic
Psychology Practitioners
Clarification
of Health Professionals Registers / Councils Acronyms
The purpose
of these health professional regulatory bodies is to protect and promote the
safety of the public. They do this by setting standards of behaviour, education
and ethics that health professionals must meet.
This list is checked and updated on a regular basis.
NTC Nutritional
Therapy Council
UKRC United
Kingdom Register of Counsellors
CHRE The
Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
CMA Complementary
Medical Association
CMIR Chinese
Medical Institute and Register
CNHC Complementary
and Natural Healthcare Council
UKCP The
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
HPC Health
Professionals Council
UKRCP United Kingdom Register of Counsellors
and Psychotherapists