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Obesity may be described as a physical
condition characterised by excessive deposition or
storage of fats in adipose tissues. It usually results
from consumption of foods in excess of physiological
needs. Obesity is a serious health hazard as the extra
fat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys and liver as well
as the large weight bearing joints such as the hips,
knees and ankles, which ultimately shortens the life
span.
There is now growing realisation that much adult obesity
has its origin in infancy, childhood and adolescence. The
prevention of obesity should therfore begin in infancy.
The prevalence of obesity in children is estimated to be
25 per cent in the first year, less than five per cent at
5 years and nine per cent at 15 years. It is however, not
necessary that fat babies become fat children, but obese
five-years-old are more likely to become fat adolscents.
Crawford and co-workers conducted studies in obese
infants. They concluded from these studies that the best
obesity index for infants six months of age is a weight
gain greater than 5.34 kg. during the period from birth
to six months of age. It can, however, be generally said
that obese children are those whose weight exceeds the
expected weight for height by more than 20 per cent. Symptoms
During infancy and
childhood, the disadvantages of obesity are relatively
small. A fat child has an increased tendency to acute
respiratory infections. Severe obesity can delay motor
development. A really fat child of two years may hardly
be able to walk and his exploratoin of the environment
will be delayed. Knock-knee is common. Emotional
disturbances are likely to develop, particularly at
adolscence and puberty may occur early.
Causes
Several factors
can lead to obesity in children. These include genetic
tendency, racial and familial diet habits, a personal
habit of overeating, restricted exercise and emotional
factors. Another important cause of obesity can be some
abnormality in the metabolism of adipose cells or in
energy expenditure.
Treatment
A suitably planned
course of dietetic treatment, in conjunction with
suitable exercise and other measures for promoting
elimination, is the only scientific way of dealing with
obesity. To begin with, the child should be put on a
liquid diet for three to five days. Fresh fruit juices
will be especially beneficial. Lemon, orange, pineapple
and cabbage may be used for juices.
After the liquid diet, taking three meals a day of fresh
juicy fruits, such as orange, grapefruit, pineapple and
papaya. Thereafter, he may gradually embark upon a
low-calorie well- balanced diet consisting of seeds, nuts
and grains,vegetables and fruits, according to his age.
The emphasis should be on fresh fruts, raw or lighly
-cooked vegetables and fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
As with an obese adult, an obese infant may be overfed or
underactive. It is , therefore, essential that the daily
food intake and activity and sleep pattern of the infant
should regularly be appraised throughout the first year
of life in a health care setting. No more than 120 kcal,
per kilogram per day is appropriate for the very young
infant and no more than 100 kcal. per kilogram, for the
older infant. The food intake should be co-related with
the activity and sleep pattern. Severe energy-restricted
diets are, however, not advised for children prior to the
completion of the adolescent growth spurt. An inadequate
energy intake before and during the growth spurt can lead
to growth retardation. If the actual energy and nutrient
intake is greatly in excess of that recommended for age,
the diet should be planned in such a way as to contain
energy and nutrients appropriate for the age.
The food which should be drastically curtailed or
altogether avoided are high -fat foods such as butter,
cheese, chocolate, cream, ice cream, meats, fried food
and gravies, high carbohydrated foods like bread,candy,
cake, cookies, cereal products, legumes, potatoes, sugar
and rich puddings and beverages such as all foundtain
drinks.
Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the
treatment of the obesity. The most important of these is
to spend few days on lime juice-honey water. In this mode
of treatment one spoon of fresh honey should be mixed
with a juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water
and taken at regular interval.
The leaves of jujube or Indian plum (ber) is
another valuable remedy for obesity. A handful of leaves
should be soaked over night in water and this water
should be taken in the morning, preferably on an empty
stomach. This treatment should be continued for atleast
one month to achieve beneficial results.
Cabbage ( bandgobi) is considered to be an
excellent home remedy for obesity. Recent research has
discovered in this vegetable a valuable content called
tartaric acid which inhibits the conversion of sugar and
other carbohydrates in fat. Hence it is of great value in
weight reduction. Helping of cabbage salad would be the
simplest way to stay slim, painless way of dieting.
Tomatoes ( tamatar) are also valuable in treating
obesity. One or two tomatoes taken early morning, without
breakfast, for a couple of months is considered a sage
method of weight reduction and at the same time it also
supplies the essential food elements to preserve the
health.
Finger millet ( ragi) is an ideal food for obese
people, because its digestion is slow and due to this the
carbohydrate takes longer time to get absorbed. By eating
ragi preparations, the constant desire to eat will be
curbed, reducing the daily caloric intake. At the same
time, it supplies abundance of calcium, phosphorous,
iron, vitamin B 1 and prevents malnutrition inspite of
restricted food.
Exercise also plays an important role in weight reduction
plan. It helps to use up calories stored in body fat.
Certain yogic asanas beneficial in the treatment of
obesity are sarvagasana, halasana, bhujangasana,
shalabhasana, dhanurasana, chakrasana, paschimottanasana,
vajrasana, yogmudra and trikon-asana. The older
children should be encouraged to practice these asanas or
undertake some form of exercise. The child-patient should
also be encouraged to adopt measures which bring an
excessive perspiration such as steam bath and massage.
They help to reduce weight.
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