Children look cute when they are fat. This is the notion of every parent. But, the fact that in the last 30% the percentage of obesity in children is quite alarming and the experts say that this is not a good sign. Statistics show that the present generation is the first not to outlive their parents. The fact and myths regarding child obesity is discussed below.

Childhood Obesity Facts: It is a fact that childhood obesity can be prevented. But, if this is not the case then the parent of the obese child should take extra care to see that proper exercises are done by the child to reduce weight. It is the responsibility of the parent to take a proactive approach towards the diet and exercise of the child.

The second fact is that children grow up. Yes this is a rather obvious statement but chances are that an obese child grows to be an obese adult. If the parent does not take proper care to control the weight issue in the childhood itself then there is a maximum chance of him becoming an obese adult as well.

If the child is obese then it is important to know the fact right about obesity rather than going by the myths. The most common myth is that obesity runs in the family. It may be true when seen that the whole family is obese but with proper diet and exercise, obesity can be controlled. The reason for the whole family being obese can be because of unhealthy food that is eaten by them. Many people blame the genes and glands for obesity running in the family but on the funny side it is said that the only gland responsible for the whole family being obese is the salivary gland.

It is also a myth that diet is the answer to get rid of obesity. Children should never be put on a diet with the advice of the doctor. Whether obese or not child needs a certain amount of protein, carbohydrates etc for his growth. A balanced meal should be given to child and with the addition of exercise; the child can lose weight in a healthy way.

The myth that childhood obesity is just a phase and as the child grows the fat will disappear is indeed a myth. Without taking proper diet and doing proper exercise it is impossible for a child to lose weight. And finally, it is definitely not the child’s fault if he is obese. Parents are responsible for this and it is their responsibility to make sure that the child eats healthy and good food and not just junk food.

Borderline diabetes is also known as pre-diabetes. This condition is very common in the United States. This diagnosis is received by many people due to bad eating habits, increased awareness of diabetes and sedentary lifestyle. However, if a person is diagnosed with pre-diabetes, he must stay positive. Diagnosis doesn’t mean that a person is destined for developing illnesses and insulin injections. If changes are made to the lifestyle, serious complications can be avoided.

Identification
The readings of blood sugar in borderline diabetics are very high than the normal diabetic readings. The normal fasting blood sugar is usually lower than 100mg/dl. If the glucose level is between 100 and 125, then pre-diabetes is indicated.

Effects
The symptoms of borderline diabetes are mainly mild. These symptoms are not noticed till the borderline diabetes is not converted to full-blown Type 2 diabetes. However, sometimes the symptoms are very diabetes. Increased thirst, mood swings, fatigue, increased urination, blurred vision and hunger may be experienced. In addition, if there are wounds, they will heal very slowly. A person is very susceptible to yeast and other infections. There are many other opportunistic infections as well.

Time frame
The appearance of type 2 diabetes and borderline diabetes is not seen overnight. Diabetes may be developed due to a sedentary lifestyle and a consistently poor diet. If a person is diagnosed with this condition, he may be urged to check his blood sugar levels till it doesn’t come in better control. How quickly the blood sugar level is stabilized will depend on the general physical health, diet and genetics. A positive change is experienced by some people within a month.

Solution and prevention
A diabetic diet must be followed for preventing diabetes. Appropriate exercise must be obtained for the physical condition. Diabetes is sometimes prevented if extra pounds are lost. Even when diabetes is not prevented entirely due to weight loss, losing extra pounds may prevent a person from having abnormal insulin conditions. Serious complications associated with diabetes are not developed.

Warning
Diabetes may cause vision problems many a times. Other problems such as heart disease, kidney disease and various life-threatening illnesses can be caused. If a person is diagnosed with pre-diabetes, it should be considered as a timely warning. There are many changes of changing the lifestyle and avoiding serious complications.

Considerations
Exercise is of great importance for the diabetics. The blood sugar levels are decreased by exercise naturally.

Researchers found that fewer babies were born with brain and spine problems, called neural tube defects, as well as cleft lip and cleft palate, when moms-to-be more closely followed either a Mediterranean diet or the food guide pyramid. “A lot of birth defects including neural tube defects occur very early in pregnancy, before women even know they’re pregnant,” said Suzan Carmichael from Stanford University, who worked on the study. “These messages are important for women who are at any risk of becoming pregnant.”

The bottom line for women who are pregnant or may get pregnant, she told Reuters Health, is to “eat a variety of foods, including a lot of fruits and vegetables and grains in your diet, and take a vitamin supplement that contains folic acid.”

Grain products have been fortified with folic acid in the U.S. since the late 1990s, when studies found that low levels of folate during pregnancy were linked to brain and spine birth defects. Pregnant women are also recommended to take a prenatal vitaminwith folic acid and iron.

Carmichael and her colleagues wondered if eating a healthy, balanced diet could have the same protective effect as getting extra vitamins and minerals through supplements. They used data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study to compare about 3,400 women who had a baby with a neural tube defect or a cleft lip or palate and 6,100 women whose babies didn’t have a birth defect.

Each of those women completed a phone interview in the two years after her baby was born.

Researchers asked the new mothers how frequently they had eaten a range of foods, from beans to candy, in the few months before they became pregnant. Then they calculated how closely women had followed a Mediterranean diet (high in beans, fruits and vegetables, grains and fish and low in dairy, meat and sweets) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid (high in grains and fruits and vegetables, with few calories from fat and sweets).

In the years since the study was completed, the USDA has modified its nutrition recommendations from a pyramid shape to a plate, with portions of grain, fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy.

After taking into account how much women weighed, whether they took vitamins and if they smoked and drank, Carmichael and her colleagues found that those who more closely followed either healthy diet were less likely to have babies with any of the birth defects they studied.

Mild reminder: Having a baby (and) a good pregnancy is a result of many things, trying to eat a healthy diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables, “totally makes sense.”