What should I do if my child has a big belly? It is important to develop the habit of exercising!

Some children have particularly big bellies, which may be a sign of obesity, so losing weight is very important. On the one hand, you need to limit the child's diet and not allow them to eat too much. At the same time, you need to develop a habit of exercising. Combining multiple measures will achieve better results.

1. Restricting your diet

Dietary restrictions should not only achieve the goal of weight loss, but also ensure the normal growth and development of children. Therefore, it is not advisable to act too hastily at the beginning and cause a sudden weight loss. It is only required to control weight gain and reduce the weight to 10% of the average standard weight calculated for the height. Then there is no need for strict dietary restrictions.

Severely obese children can reduce their calorie intake by 30% or more based on their ideal body weight. Their diet should be high in protein, low in carbohydrates and low in fat, and animal fat should not exceed 1/3 of the total fat. And provide the normal required amounts of vitamins and minerals. To satisfy children's appetite and eliminate hunger, they can eat more low-calorie and large-volume foods such as vegetables, fruits, etc. It is advisable to limit the intake of snacks, sweets and high-calorie foods such as chocolate.

2. Increase exercise

Obese children should exercise every day and develop a habit. You can start with a small amount of exercise, and then gradually increase the amount and duration of exercise. Avoid strenuous exercise as it may increase your appetite.

3. Behavioral therapy

Teach children and their parents behavior management methods. Older children should learn to monitor themselves, record their daily weight, activities, food intake, environmental factors, etc., and make regular summaries. Parents help their children evaluate the treatment implementation and establish good eating and behavioral habits.

What symptoms may indicate that a child is suffering from obesity?

1. Age of onset. The three most common periods for obesity are: within 1 year after birth, 4-5 years old, and adolescence.

2. Excellent appetite, eat a lot, like sweets and fatty foods, and often have bad eating habits.

3. Subcutaneous fat is evenly distributed, and white or light red stripes can be seen on the skin of severely obese children. Pay attention to identifying pseudomastia and genital dysplasia in boys.

4. During adolescence, children may grow too fast, and their bone age may be normal or exceed their actual age.

5. Obese girls may enter puberty earlier than normal children, while the opposite may be true for boys.