Twitter
Advertisement

Study: Traditional food helps in reducing flab in obese kids

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

If obesity and poor eating habits of your child are weighing you down, it’s time to seek expert help, according to a study by Nanavati hospital. The year-long programme, which involved 184 children from city schools, has found various factors ranging from force-feeding to excessive advertisements on TV, behind the problem.

Chief dietician at Nanavati Dr Ushakiran Sisodia, who carried out the study, said they selected children in the age group of 3 to 10 years, based on Body Mass Index (BMI) and gave their parents nutritional counselling to make them aware of the importance of traditional food.

BMI, which is an approximate measure of whether someone is over- or underweight, is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilogrammes by the square of his/her height in metres.

Sisodia said, “In today’s time, many nuclear families have forgotten their traditional diet and embraced fast food and westernised diet. We attempted to make some changes at this level.”

Sisodia said they found that many of these children were force-fed and their parents cribbed about them being fussy eaters.

Doctors define a fussy eating child as one who eats nutritious food like fruits, vegetables, milk, dairy products, etc either selectively, eats them in lesser quantities, or does not eat at all.

The study concluded that traditional meals should be encouraged and a healthy atmosphere can help the body absorb more nutrients. “We found that the children did manage to have a healthy weight unless they had a genetic factor. Individual personalities, home environment and behaviour can be strong factors in having a healthy lifestyle,” said Sisodia.

The dietician added that parents should remember that food should be fed in moderation and they shouldn’t lose patience if children try to be picky eaters. The study, which was concluded in November,  was presented at an international conference and sent for a medical journal.

Dr Mukesh Sanklecha, consultant paediatrics, Bombay Hospital, attributed fussy eating to parental upbringing and force-feeding over a period of time. “Pushing children to eat creates a negative attitude towards food. Bringing discipline in food habits is necessary. It also depends on what the parents eat as they set an example for their children. If the children see their parents eating pizza and burger, they too will ask for it.”

Citing an example, Sanklecha said, “I have been treating a three-and-a-half-year-old girl with poor eating habits. I found out that her grandparents used to force-feed her. I advised the family to stop this practice. After 8-10 weeks, she is now not at all fussy while eating.”

Paediatrician Dr Archana Kher said kids from nuclear families are most likely to develop poor eating habits to try and seek attention. She said, “Of 20 patients we get daily, at least 10 are fussy eaters. In a nuclear family, especially with both parents working, a child tries to seek attention by fussy eating. While in joint family, the child adjusts.”

Kher also blamed excessive advertisements about food items on television. She said, “Children, especially between three and five, ask for the same kind of food that they see on TV.”

Feeding time tips
Establish set meal and snack times
Learn to understand your child’s hunger signals and avoid force-feeding
Choose healthy foods. Stuff your fridge with fruits and vegetables instead of junk foods
Eat together and model good eating
Consistently offer new foods

BMI not just a formula
BMI is based on a person’s height and weight. While it ranges from 15 to 40, a score of 22.5 is considered ideal for Indians. However, the process is a little complicated for children as their BMI changes considerably between birth and adulthood. Experts say parents should seek medical help if they are concerned about their children’s growth

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement