Every year, the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) records the height and weight of a million English school children. This is to give a clear indication of the prevalence of child obesity in the UK. Figures for 2015/16, show that 20% of 4-5 year old children were overweight or obese. Along with a third of 10-11 year olds. In total, 28% of children aged 2 – 15 were either overweight or obese with a slightly higher proportion of boys than girls in that category.
An interesting fact revealed by the Health Survey for England is that most overweight and obese children didn’t recognise that they were too heavy. Only 26% of overweight, children between 8 and 15 described themselves as too heavy.
Recognise health
Obesity is seen as a global epidemic. It’s important that adults are able to recognise a healthy weight and size for their children, as we all become used to seeing heavier children around us. It’s also important to know which habits will encourage children to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Don’t comment on your child’s weight in front of them, as this can cause anxiety but talk about a whole family. Instead change to better eating habits and congratulate your child when they are active rather than sitting in front of a screen.
What to do about child obesity
Good role models are the most important element – even higher than a perfect diet. Children benefit from being surrounded by adults who eat well, exercise regularly and don’t veg out all evening! This means working in partnership with your nanny to ensure that you all take some responsibility for child health. For example, in families where nanny takes the children swimming and to play tennis and parents take no exercise. Children will tend not to see physical activity as a vital component of adult daily life.
Balanced diets are important – and small changes add up. Nannies can find that children have learned to expect ‘rewards’ for good behaviour which often take the form of sweets and high fat snacks. Breaking that cycle is vital. Offering fresh fruit, crudité vegetables and water to drink rather than sugary soft drinks, crisps and chocolate will help. However replacing food rewards with activity ones is a good idea too.
Child sized portions may not be what you think. For example for children aged 1 – 4, the recommended meal portion of meat is half to one whole sausage or half to one and a half tablespoons of tinned tuna. Many parents are feeding their children much more than this. Offer smaller portions more often, and ensure fruit and veg – half an apple, 5 or 6 carrot sticks, a small tangerine in segments etc is offered at every meal. If toddlers want more fruit and veg, it’s good for them to eat low energy foods that are high in nutrients, so offer more of these, rather than sugars or fats.
Prevent the problem
Working with your nanny to develop healthy eating habits is good for children and good for you. Make sure your meal planning includes plenty of fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Consider eating vegetarian one day a week, with lentils and beans for protein. Cut back on the amount of sugary cereal, fizzy drinks and unhealthy snacks you keep in the house and agree between you and nanny to have bowls of healthy fruit and water jugs on the dinner table rather than crisps and sweets and high calorie ‘juice drinks’ which are often little more than sugared water.