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Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
8 ways to manage your child's weight as first 1,000 days of life found to be critical
Experts have warned that child obesity has risen to "alarming" levels and are calling for action to prevent unhealthy lifestyles setting in among babies and toddlers. The first 1,000 days of a child's life – from pregnancy through to their second birthday – are paramount when it comes to their health trajectory, the experts stated, and this period is "critical to development and health across the life-course." From their observations, academics at the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the Italian National Academy of Sciences also noted how difficult it was to change that trajectory once a child reaches five years of age. "The overall goal should be to establish and maintain a healthy body-weight trajectory that avoids excess gain early in life," they said. It comes after another study earlier this year, which also warned that being overweight as a child could double the risk of being obese as an adult. The research, which tracked the body mass index (BMI) of thousands of children in the Netherlands, not only found that the first five years of a child's life are vital in preventing excess weight gain in the future, but also that the BMI of six-year-olds was the most reliable indicator of obesity later on in life. More than a quarter of children (26.8%) aged two to 15 are overweight or obese in England, according to government figures. Experts have suggested the number of obese children and adults in the UK will rise substantially by 2050, with kids aged five to 14 bearing the brunt. Girls in this age group will see a 53% rise in obesity levels, per the global analysis, and boys a 57% rise. So, what can parents do at home to help reduce the risk of obesity in their children? Mindful eating techniques, such as eating more slowly, have been proven to help children and adults digest their food properly. They also improve nutrients absorption and promote healthier relationships with food, encouraging a better appreciation of food, and helping people establish when they are full. Other mindful eating techniques for children include: Limiting distractions while they eat Asking for hunger cues before, during and after they eat Engaging all fives senses when they eat Discussing how different foods impact their mood, feelings and productivity Studies have shown that snacking is more prevalent among those who are obese, but grazing can have other implications. Of course it depends on what your child is eating and how often they are picking, but snacking also affects their appetite and often includes ultra-processed foods, which can be harmful in other ways. Alarmingly, a recent study by UCL published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that nearly half (47%) of the calories obtained by toddlers in the UK are from UPFs and 59% of calories obtained by those aged seven are derived from UPFs. Portion size is also key. Children should not be eating adult-sized meals. So, as well as reducing the amount of food you are giving them, assess the crockery you are using – smaller plates will help you establish child-appropriate servings. Your little one may have an aversion to broccoli or Brussels sprouts, but there are smarter ways to incorporate veggies into their diets that don't involve mealtime meltdowns. For example, nutritionist Emily English (known as Em the Nutritionist online) has a viral five-a-day lasagne that involves mincing mushrooms, celery and other vegetables into a pulse, to add to the meat (optional). You cannot taste the individual vegetables disguised in the dish, but they add goodness and mean your whole family is benefiting from a healthier meal. Just as we cannot expect our kids to put their phones and tablets down if we're forever glued to our screens, we cannot expect them to eat healthily and adopt positive lifestyle changes if we're not leading by example. So, as well as ensuring the entire family is sticking to a healthy, balanced diet, be mindful of how you discuss food and exercise around them. Speaking of exercise, a great way to get your kids going is to adopt more active approaches as a family. Whether it's weekend walks, daily runs to the park with the dog or team sports – adding regular exercise to their week can really go a long way. Setting strict bedtimes and establishing a nighttime routine is beneficial. Not only does good quality sleep help bolster their mood and productivity, it can impact their weight and overall health. Discuss with your child realistic targets for them – and your whole family – to achieve, and ensure you reward positive behaviour and give encouraging feedback as they go. With both diet and exercise, the main thing is consistency – in terms of what you eat and do, how often you do it, and when you do it. Sticking to the same mealtimes, having designated exercise slots and creating consistent portions and meal types will help establish healthy habits – both in the short- and long-term. Read more about children's health and parenting Seven signs your child could be struggling with their mental health (Yahoo Life UK) How to spot anxiety in your child and how to help them (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read) Six things parents should know about Sabrina Carpenter's Short N' Sweet tour (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read)
Wales Online
a day ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Call to 'target' babies as childhood obesity reaches record level
Call to 'target' babies as childhood obesity reaches record level Almost a quarter of children in Year Six are now obese 1.3million children are obeses and 2.3million are overweight Childhood obesity has risen to 'alarming' levels, academics have said as they called for action to prevent unhealthy lifestyles setting in among babies and toddlers. Experts said that a child's trajectories are set early in life and 'appear difficult to alter after the age of about five years'. They said that the first 1,000 days of life – from pregnancy through to a child's second birthday – are 'critical to development and health across the life-course' as they called for early action to prevent obesity in children. These interventions could include: helping women to begin pregnancy at a healthy weight; encouraging breastfeeding, which is linked with a reduced risk of childhood obesity and avoiding 'rapid catch-up growth' in low birth weight babies. 'The overall goal should be to establish and maintain a healthy body-weight trajectory that avoids excess gain early in life,' experts from the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the Italian National Academy of Sciences said. In the UK, 1.3 million children are obese and a further 2.3 million are overweight, the authors said. The authors highlight how single interventions 'such as diet or physical activity, in single settings' rarely work without consideration of wider factors which may contribute to childhood obesity. The report says that portraying obesity as a 'character flaw' leads to stigmatisation which can be counterproductive and may increase the risk of unhealthy diet and lifestyle, but positive messages about the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight may work better. 'Childhood obesity has become an urgent public health challenge that is both affecting lives today and storing up problems for the future,' the report states. According to the latest National Childhood Measurement Programme figures, one in ten (9.6%) children in England are obese when they begin their schooling. And 22.1% of 10 and 11-year-olds in Year 6 are obese. Obesity is higher in boys than girls, the figures show. And those living in poorer neighbourhoods are more likely to be obese compared to those in the wealthiest. Article continues below The authors of the new report highlight how levels of obesity in deprived areas is creating a 'vicious cycle' because obesity is linked to reduced job opportunities which in turn is a risk factor for weight gain. The new report comes as the Government prepares to launch it's 10 year plan for health, which has a focus on preventing ill health from occurring in the first place. Under new proposals set out in the plan retailers could be made to set targets to increase their sales of less fattening products. But the authors of the new report said that 'robust' regulation of the food industry is needed rather than relying on voluntary agreements, with evidence supporting taxation of unhealthy products and potential subsidies for healthier options. 'The first 1,000 days, including time in the womb, represent an important window of opportunity to set children on a healthy trajectory for life,' said Professor Susan Ozanne, co-chair of the report. 'Once obesity is established, it becomes increasingly harder to reverse. This isn't about individual willpower or blaming and shaming – it's about creating an environment for parents, carers and their children that supports healthy development from the very beginning.' Professor Rosalind Smyth, clinical vice-president at the Academy of Medical Sciences, added: 'When we address health inequalities in the earliest years, we're not just improving individual outcomes – we're building the foundations for a healthier, more productive society. 'The evidence reinforces that prevention, which requires a cross-sectoral approach, must be co-ordinated across all government departments.' Article continues below A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Good nutrition is essential to giving babies the best start in life and this government has set a bold ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. As part of our 10 Year Health Plan, food retailers and manufacturers will 'make the healthy choice the easy choice' in a world-first partnership between government and industry to tackle the obesity epidemic and ease pressure on the NHS. 'We have also set out plans to tackle widening health inequalities through fundamental reforms to our health system – putting an end to a postcode lottery of care, and we have allocated an extra £57 million for Start for Life services, helping expectant and new mothers with their infants.'
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Urgent warning to new parents as age childhood obesity risk set uncovered
Breast feeding and early nutrition habits are vital as experts say our chances of being healthy 'appear difficult to alter after the age of about five' as experts say new mums should get health advice Child obesity risk is largely 'set by age five' as experts say new mums should be targeted with urgent health advice. A report by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences has warned that a child's trajectories are set early in life and "appear difficult to alter after the age of about five years". One in ten children are now obese by this age but experts insist it must not be considered a 'character flaw' and carry stigma. The academics said that the period from pregnancy through to a child's second birthday are "critical to development and health across the life-course". Professor Susan Ozanne, co-chair of the report, said: "The first 1,000 days, including time in the womb, represent an important window of opportunity to set children on a healthy trajectory for life. Once obesity is established, it becomes increasingly harder to reverse. This isn't about individual willpower or blaming and shaming - it's about creating an environment for parents, carers and their children that supports healthy development from the very beginning." The National Childhood Measurement Programme shows 9.6% of children in England are obese when they begin primary school and 22.1% of 10 and 11-year-olds are obese. Obesity is higher in boys than girls and those living in poorer neighbourhoods are more likely to be obese compared to those in the wealthiest. The joint report with the Italian National Academy of Sciences said interventions could include helping women to begin pregnancy at a healthy weight, encouraging breastfeeding, which is linked with a reduced risk of childhood obesity and avoiding "rapid catch-up growth" in low birth weight babies. It said single interventions "such as diet or physical activity, in single settings" rarely work without consideration of wider factors which may contribute to childhood obesity. The report says that portraying obesity as a "character flaw" leads to stigmatisation which can be counterproductive and may increase the risk of unhealthy diet and lifestyle, but positive messages about the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight may work better. The report states: "Childhood obesity has become an urgent public health challenge that is both affecting lives today and storing up problems for the future.' As an example, the report highlights how levels of obesity in deprived areas is creating a "vicious cycle" because obesity is linked to reduced job opportunities which in turn is a risk factor for weight gain. The new report comes as the Government prepares to launch its 10 year plan for health, which has a focus on preventing ill health from occurring in the first place. In Britain 1.3 million children are obese and a further 2.3 million are overweight. Professor Rosalind Smyth, clinical vice-president at the Academy of Medical Sciences, added: "When we address health inequalities in the earliest years, we're not just improving individual outcomes - we're building the foundations for a healthier, more productive society. The evidence reinforces that prevention must be co-ordinated across all government departments."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Childhood obesity in Scotland 'growing alarmingly' as experts call for food industry crackdown
Young Scots from the most deprived parts of the country have double the risk of experiencing obesity than those livng in the most affluent areas. Childhood obesity has risen to "alarming" levels with experts calling for action to prevent unhealthy lifestyles setting in among babies and toddlers. A report out today warns a child's expectation of living a healthy life is set early on and becomes "difficult to alter after the age of about five years". Experts said the first 1,000 days of life – from pregnancy through to a child's second birthday – are "critical to development and health across the life-course" as they called for early action to prevent obesity in youngsters. It comes amid warnings that childhood obesity in Scotland is "growing alarmingly" with 20 per cent of children at risk of being overweight by the time they enter primary one. Young Scots from the most deprived parts of the country also have double the risk of experiencing obesity than those livng in the most affluent areas. Experts said interventions were needed to help women to begin pregnancy at a healthy weight and encouraging breastfeeding - which is linked with a reduced risk of childhood obesity and avoiding 'rapid catch-up growth' in low birth weight babies. "The overall goal should be to establish and maintain a healthy body-weight trajectory that avoids excess gain early in life,' experts from the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the Italian National Academy of Sciences said. In the UK, 1.3 million children are obese and a further 2.3 million are overweight. The authors highlight how single interventions 'such as diet or physical activity, in single settings' rarely work without consideration of wider factors which may contribute to childhood obesity. The report says that portraying obesity as a 'character flaw' leads to stigmatisation which can be counterproductive and may increase the risk of unhealthy diet and lifestyle, but positive messages about the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight may work better. 'Childhood obesity has become an urgent public health challenge that is both affecting lives today and storing up problems for the future,' the report states. Dr Shoba John, head of Obesity Action Scotland, said the report mirrored what was happening north of the Border. The health expert urged the Scottish Government to restrict the advertising of junk foods and ensure school meals met nutritional standards. "Childhood obesity in Scotland is growing alarmingly, with 20 per cent of children at risk of overweight and obesity at primary one level," Dr John told the Record. "Worryingly, children from deprived areas have double the risk of experiencing obesity at that age, an unacceptable disadvantage to start life with for any child. "They continue to grow up in an unhealthy food environment replete with junk food ads, discounted sugary drinks and promotional deals on unhealthy food in retail stores. "England is introducing mandatory healthiness targets for retail food. Scotland needs to urgently follow suit, restrict outdoor advertising of junk food and ensure that school meals adhere to national nutritional standards. Fiscal levers are key to reducing consumption of unhealthy food and drinks that have a bearing on obesity levels." The authors of the new report said that "robust" regulation of the food industry is needed rather than relying on voluntary agreements, with evidence supporting taxation of unhealthy products and potential subsidies for healthier options. 'The first 1,000 days, including time in the womb, represent an important window of opportunity to set children on a healthy trajectory for life,' said Professor Susan Ozanne, co-chair of the report. "Once obesity is established, it becomes increasingly harder to reverse. This isn't about individual willpower or blaming and shaming – it's about creating an environment for parents, carers and their children that supports healthy development from the very beginning." The Record asked the Scottish Government for comment.
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
Call for early action to tackle ‘alarming' rise of childhood obesity
Childhood obesity has risen to 'alarming' levels, academics have said as they called for action to prevent unhealthy lifestyles setting in among babies and toddlers. Experts said that a child's trajectories are set early in life and 'appear difficult to alter after the age of about five years'. They said that the first 1,000 days of life – from pregnancy through to a child's second birthday – are 'critical to development and health across the life-course' as they called for early action to prevent obesity in children. These interventions could include: helping women to begin pregnancy at a healthy weight; encouraging breastfeeding, which is linked with a reduced risk of childhood obesity and avoiding 'rapid catch-up growth' in low birth weight babies. 'The overall goal should be to establish and maintain a healthy body-weight trajectory that avoids excess gain early in life,' experts from the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the Italian National Academy of Sciences said. In the UK, 1.3 million children are obese and a further 2.3 million are overweight, the authors said. The authors highlight how single interventions 'such as diet or physical activity, in single settings' rarely work without consideration of wider factors which may contribute to childhood obesity. The report says that portraying obesity as a 'character flaw' leads to stigmatisation which can be counterproductive and may increase the risk of unhealthy diet and lifestyle, but positive messages about the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight may work better. 'Childhood obesity has become an urgent public health challenge that is both affecting lives today and storing up problems for the future,' the report states. According to the latest National Childhood Measurement Programme figures, one in ten (9.6%) children in England are obese when they begin their schooling. And 22.1% of 10 and 11-year-olds in Year 6 are obese. Obesity is higher in boys than girls, the figures show. And those living in poorer neighbourhoods are more likely to be obese compared to those in the wealthiest. The authors of the new report highlight how levels of obesity in deprived areas is creating a 'vicious cycle' because obesity is linked to reduced job opportunities which in turn is a risk factor for weight gain. The new report comes as the Government prepares to launch it's 10 year plan for health, which has a focus on preventing ill health from occurring in the first place. Under new proposals set out in the plan retailers could be made to set targets to increase their sales of less fattening products. But the authors of the new report said that 'robust' regulation of the food industry is needed rather than relying on voluntary agreements, with evidence supporting taxation of unhealthy products and potential subsidies for healthier options. 'The first 1,000 days, including time in the womb, represent an important window of opportunity to set children on a healthy trajectory for life,' said Professor Susan Ozanne, co-chair of the report. 'Once obesity is established, it becomes increasingly harder to reverse. 'This isn't about individual willpower or blaming and shaming – it's about creating an environment for parents, carers and their children that supports healthy development from the very beginning.' Professor Rosalind Smyth, clinical vice-president at the Academy of Medical Sciences, added: 'When we address health inequalities in the earliest years, we're not just improving individual outcomes – we're building the foundations for a healthier, more productive society. 'The evidence reinforces that prevention, which requires a cross-sectoral approach, must be co-ordinated across all government departments.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Good nutrition is essential to giving babies the best start in life and this government has set a bold ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. 'As part of our 10 Year Health Plan, food retailers and manufacturers will 'make the healthy choice the easy choice' in a world-first partnership between government and industry to tackle the obesity epidemic and ease pressure on the NHS. 'We have also set out plans to tackle widening health inequalities through fundamental reforms to our health system – putting an end to a postcode lottery of care, and we have allocated an extra £57 million for Start for Life services, helping expectant and new mothers with their infants.'
