Efforts Required To Motivate Parents For Controlling Obesity In Children: Medical Expert

Consultant Physician of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Dr Shafaq Shaikh on Friday said that serious efforts are required to motivate the parents for controlling obesity in children to save them from heart diseases

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Nov, 2018 ) :consultant Physician of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Dr Shafaq Shaikh on Friday said that serious efforts are required to motivate the parents for controlling obesity in children to save them from heart diseases.

Talking to APP here, she said that 80 percent of obese children remain obese in their grown-up age therefore; we must be concerned about the fat babies rather than feeling happy about their obesity.

Physical activity is vital for good heart health as lack of physical activity can contribute to obesity and diabetes among children, she said.

She said that regular physical activity also helps to slow down narrowing of the arteries to the heart and brain encourages the body to use up stored fat.

People consider it as a symbol of health and they are not aware of the possible hazards to their health which can be caused by their excessive weight therefore they rarely try to lose weight, she said.

She described that obesity was not a symbol of health rather a disease therefore obesity should be taken as a disease and treated like a disease.

She suggested that parents should help their children in reducing their weight through healthy balanced diet and physical activities to avoid major risk factors of heart diseases.

The parents could play key role in influencing the life-long habits of their children, which could protect them against the ailment, she informed.

With the help of parents, schools and other community groups, children should indulge in physical exercise coupled with balanced diet to prevent obesity, Dr Shafaq opined.