Today we have talked about eating disorders with our English teacher. First of all, we have analysed different factors responsible for obesity in children.
Children are less and less interested in physical exercice, They spend most of their time in front of the screen, playing with a play station or with their mobiles. In the past, children went outdoors with their peers to play hide-and-seek or cops and robbers, ride bikes or build a cabin; nowadays, children stay at home and don't move enough.
Children eat too many sweets, pastries and sugar-rich drinks. In the past, children ate more fruit, ham or cheese sandwiches and water. Today, parents allow their children to eat what they want for convinience.
Another important cultural factor which prevents obesity is eating together. It is important that families gather around the table and have their meals at the same time. This prevents from eating when and what you like. It is a good thing to wait for everybody to be seated before starting the meal. It's a bad thing to cook something different for your child only because they say they don't like the food. Taste is something to be developped and it's advisable that children taste at least a bit of the food in order to get used to it.
We cannot forget genetic factors, but since we are not doctors, it is difficult for us to intervene. Other factors have a psychological nature. Stress, low self- esteem or depression can go along with obesity. The act of eating implies some kind of pleasure which can momentarily compensate this uneasiness. As aconsequence, people put on weigh and at the end of the day, their obesity makes them sad and depression and low-esteem worsen. It is a full circle thing.
Consequences.
Obesity is increasing. As a result other children will tease fat ones and this will lead to low self-esteem.
On the other hand, obesity is the first factor for other eating disorders such anorexia and bulimia to appear.
In order of importance, anorexia is placed in the first place, followed by bulimia and in the third place binge eating disorder.
In some cases, eating disorders can start at 6 years old and sometimes these disorders can last a whole life. So it is very important to be aware of their psychological and social impact and to take effective measures in order to prevent them.
Solutions
It is crucial to acquire healthy habits and to cut dramatically down on fats and sugars.
If the children is put on a diet, the most important thing is not to skip the diet on no account; and afterwards, healthy habits will help to maintain the weight loss.
It is a tricky issue to consider obesity a child abuse from the parents in the same way as sexual or physical abuse. But we cannot deny that it is a serious negligence that should be supervised by social workers.
An easy measure to start with, would be to forbid the sale of sweets and pastries in the canteens and to sell a great variety of fruits and nuts instead.
It has been proved that healthy diet should be part of the contents at school and every teacher ought to give some good tips to their students order to increase the children awareness of what they eat.
