Obesity victims are getting younger

According to doctors, a rising number of babies and toddlers are now being diagnosed as obese and in some cases are suffering from weight-related diseases that are usually not seen until much later on in life.

According to figures there are hundreds of under three’s now receiving treatment for obesity in hospitals up and down the country, with 40 babies under 12 months being admitted during the past five years.

Health experts are warning that because the hospitals only see the most extreme cases of obesity in very young children, the true picture is likely to be far worse.

In some cases, specialists working in hospitals have seen one year olds who weigh up to three stone, that’s double the amount a healthy youngster that age should weigh.

Experts are unsure to the exact cause of the dramatic rise but are concerned that many parents are trying to ween their babies onto solid foods too early and often feed them foods which aren’t appropriate.

In some cases doctors have reported babies being fed fizzy pop, crisps and even pureed chips with milk or pureed or mashed takeaway food.

Health experts have said parents really need to be taught what to feed their babies to prevent the development of obesity related diseases.

If you are struggling to feed your children a healthy diet then it is important that you seek help now to prevent serious health issues in the future. A healthy diet full of nutritious foods will significantly reduce a child’s risk of weight related conditions but actually providing that kind of diet can be difficult, especially when you are used to eating a high volume of processed and junk yourself.

If you are serious about leading a healthier lifestyle for both yourself and for your children then you may find a health coach could help you to achieve this. If you are unsure about where to start and feel intimidated by the idea of overhauling your food and exercise habits completely, then a health coach will be able to help you establish what your goals are and will help you to reach them through determination, motivation and support.

To find out more about how health coaching could help you, please visit our fact-sheet for further information.

View the original Telegraph article.