“The Key to Weight Loss: What You Don’t Eat”
Childhood Obesity is a Growing Health Threat, Warns Expert
Pediatric Cardiology Specialist, Prof. Dr. Selami Süleymanoğlu, has warned families about the growing threat of childhood obesity. According to Süleymanoğlu, obesity is one of the most significant health threats to both adults and children. The expert explained that there are different types of weight issues, such as overweight, obesity, and underweight. He further added that one could calculate this based on the child’s body mass index.
Süleymanoğlu said that the rate of childhood obesity is increasing due to genetic and hormonal reasons, and it is more common in boys and young girls. He noted that obesity is a chronic disease and causes various health problems, from cardiovascular diseases to hypertension, from diabetes to endocrine disorders. Additionally, he warned families that obesity-related health issues usually go unnoticed as they occur over extended periods and ultimately put a considerable strain on healthcare systems in the future.
The expert emphasized that it is crucial to take control of weight problems as a family, and there are five basic methods to address weight issues. These include: accepting the weight problem as a family issue; limiting food intake; increasing activity levels; having the child’s progress regularly monitored by an outside eye, and consulting a specialist if there is an underlying psychogenic cause.
Süleymanoğlu also warned that if a child is overweight at the age of six, this is a significant indicator of lifelong obesity issues. Therefore, it is necessary to detect and take corrective actions as early as possible to address this problem. Finally, he reminded families that the risk of obesity is equally high for both overweight and underweight children, urging parents to perceive health from this perspective.
Obesity is a growing public health problem that requires immediate attention and action from all stakeholders. By addressing obesity in childhood, we can prevent lifelong health problems and reduce the strain on healthcare systems globally.
