As we know, childhood obesity can lead to serious health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, asthma, sleep, apnea, etc. According to a new recent research study, obesity in children, who do not exercise, can lead to another series health issue, dementia.
A University of Oxford research study observed 862 children whose weight was measured from the age of seven. These children had their weekly physical activity levels tracked from age 11 and their brains were scanned and analyzed around the age of 20 for changes linked to dementia.
Results showed that children with a higher BMI at the age of seven, who gained weight rapidly until the age of 17, had differences in the structure of their “default mode network.” This unfortunately yields a higher incidence of potential dementia later in life.
“Dementia is seen as a disease which affects older people, and people think the ‘critical window’ for avoiding it by living healthily is in middle age,” Holly Haines, lead author of the study, which was published in the journal eBioMedicine, commented. “But our findings suggest being healthy in childhood and teenage years is important too.”
She concluded, “There is a growing awareness that our lifestyle through our whole lives, from a young age, affects what happens to us in later life, and that it is never too early to think about being healthier.”
Helping your child to adopt an active lifestyle, especially if they are obese, can be challenging, but it is not impossible! Here are eight tips to encourage them to start exercising:
- Make it Fun
- Set Realistic Goals
- Be a Role Model
- Encourage Family Activities
- Create a Routine
- Limit Screen Time
- Incorporate Social Elements
- Be Supportive and Patient
Remember, before starting any exercise regimen or program, consult a physician. Although researchers have to continue to study the results behind this new study, we do know that obesity does cause a myriad of health issues. If you can prevent your child from having obesity related issues in the future, why not start now. You will be setting them up in the long run for a healthy adulthood.
