Do you think Chubby kid is Healthy ! Rethink !

95% parents of overweight kids think that their kid looks right. Only 5% parents consider that overweight as a health hazard. Parents often care for their kids too much then required, but it becomes a problem if you don't look at the weight. Parents can't notice the weight gain as the kid is always in front of them. Most of the time parents of obese kids think that their kid is just healthy and feel proud of their chubby cheeks and also feel that they are doing good parenting. Chubby cheeks are good but only up to a certain extent. If your baby is getting obese then it can not only affect other development activities but can also make him/her sick.

Parents perception of their kid

A number of researches are done on childhood obesity and what parents think about it. Outcome of most of the researches is that most of the parents don't consider their kid as overweight while he/she is. This perception of parents either comes from increasing number of overweight kids which are being considered normal or from their own ignorance. Whatever the matter is, the truth is that parents need to change their perception and consider overweight as overweight. Unless you acknowledge your kid as overweight, you can't do anything to get him/her back into shape.

Fat Babies make Fat Adults

In movies you might have seen fat kids turning into perfect adults but in real world fat babies turn into fat adults. Even if that ratio is not 100%, the chances are still higher. Eating habits are something hard to change, which is usually the major reason behind being overweight.
Under the age of 2 years and an adult there is no direct correlation of weight. but after the age of 2 it matters. Its better to keep an eye on your kid's weight.

Why do some babies become overweight or obese ?

Overfeeding: When it comes to babies, parents can't let him/her cry and mothers often offer them breastfeed / formula milk more than required. Sometimes babies need just some sort of entertainment or physical activity to get rid of their boredom, but parents think that it is due to hunger.
Overeating: Overfeeding can easily turn into a habit which can transform into overeating as the baby grow and starts eating himself/herself.
Ignorance of parents: If parents notice the kids being overweight at the right time then they can take steps to keep their weight in check. But of the parents don't take it seriously or just ignore it which becomes a major reason of overweight or obese kids.
Hormonal imbalance: Sometimes kids become obese due to some medical conditions like hormonal imbalance. But in such cases medical intervention can help the kid.
Inherited Obesity: Sometimes obesity is in the genes, where most of the family members are obese or overweight.

Steps you can take to reduce your kids weight

• Don't overfeed the baby.
• When your baby tuns to solid diet, decrease the number of milk feedings.
• For kids above the age of two, its better to keep their diet in check and don't let them over eat.
• Watching TV and eating at the same time can disrupt the eating pattern and kids often eat more. especially when there is some food that they like.
• Inactivity and video games should not be encouraged among kids, which is a leading reason behind obesity in kids. Instead you should encourage your kids for outdoor games or some physical activity.
• If overweight of your kid is due to some medical condition then consult your doctor for it.

There is no harm in having a baby with chubby cheeks as babies need more body fat compared to an adult but it becomes an issue only when weight grows more than height. Keeping a chart to compare your child's weight and height is a good habit.