Belly Fat and Children

By Daniel Murray - 2008-04-14 - Viewed 533 times. Find more articles like this in our Diets and Weightloss category.

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An alarming new report shows that abdominal obesity, belly fat, in kids is up 65%.

The report is especially alarming in light of new evidence showing that belly fat is a much better indicator of diseases like heart disease and diabetes than the traditional body mass index (BMI). Pediatricians and doctors alike are growing concerned in the new trend as some children are developing fat related diseases that are normally found in later life.

The first ever national study which covers the years 1998 to 2004 breaks the belly fat issue among boys and girl found that among boys the incidence of belly fat had increased 65% and the incidence among girls was up 70%. The findings are painting a bleak picture for children.  Children with belly fat are more prone to develop type II diabetes and some are even being reported to have early onset cardiovascular disease.

Causes of Belly Fat

Belly fat accumulates in the body just like any other fat. The body converts excess calories it gets through the eating process into fat and the fat is stored. This stored fat is supposed to be used by the body when extra reserves of energy are called for. The making of fat in the body is not unusual, but what is unusual is the decrease in the call up of reserves in children. Children have been historically a segment of the population with very active lifestyles, typically burning any excess body fat on their body. 

Children today are facing a combination of poor diet and lack of exercise.

High fat fast food diets are becoming more of a staple in children’s diets, and even when they do receive home cooked meals, some children suffer poor diets as parents often are not aware of the nutritional value of the foods they prepare. It’s kind of a double whammy for children, they are getting poorer nutrition in the food’s they eat, and they are exercising less to burn off the extra calories. 

Good News for Kids

It’s not too late for children with belly fat. The resiliency of youth can combine with the implementation of healthy diets and exercise routines which can counter act the effects of belly fat.  Parents play a key role in getting their children to a healthier life position.

By setting up more nutritious diets and promoting exercise rich life styles, parents can help their belly fat children shed weight and learn to live healthier lives.

Daniel Murray is an expert fitness instructor and personal trainer. He runs a successful website called How To Lose Fat Fast where he outlines the main reasons why people are fat and what they can do about it. Visit his site for more information and resources on how to lose belly fat.

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