What does being obese mean?
Would you say model Ashley Graham or celebrity singer Lizzo is obese?

You may have a personal opinion on that. But the right way to answer the question would be based on how obesity is described by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and how it is measured.

The CDC has divided obesity into a class of categories of “body mass index” or BMI:

1. 169 lbs to 202 lbs (25.0 to 29.9 BMI) is Overweight
2. 203 lbs or more (30 or higher BMI) is Obese
3. 271 lbs or more (40 or higher BMI) is Class 3 Obese (extreme or severe)

BMI is not the direct fat you see on a body, but rather it is the fat that is contained with skinfold thickness measurements.

How BIG is the Problem of Obesity in the US

Obesity is a complex problem that affects both children and adults. The CDC reports that obesity affects nearly 93 million U.S. adults.

For a younger generation (aged 2 to 19 years), obesity affects over 13 million U.S. children or 1 in 3 young people.

Obesity side-effects result in diabetes, cancer, strokes, high cholesterol, weak bones, heart disease, and premature death.

Family Obesity

Within healthy families, children and adults create a strong communal bond with unconditional love despite changes and challenges. This is really the testing ground of the question – Why is family important?

Being at home with family is where you can be you and know you are loved for who you are. But a family also wants to help if there is a health concern.

If there is an obesity problem, working together to devise a health plan is about creating a plan that people can live with and one that fits your family’s lifestyle. Obesity in families is an ongoing concern.

Children become obese for several reasons aside from overeating. Common obese issues in children stem from the following:

• Medical conditions
• Hormonal changes
• Heredity (Biological Inheritance)
• Lack of physical activity
• Unhealthy eating patterns

Obesity and Modern Technology

Speaking about the lack of activity, many paediatric organisations and physicians believe that children are spending more than seven hours a day playing on their mobile devices, watching TV, and playing video games. It has become quite evident that these are unhealthy habits that contribute to inactivity and has led to a rapid rise in obesity or the increase in their BMI mass.

The side effects of our children gaining weight due to modern technology involve children snacking continuously rather than eating healthy food options. Keeping their eyes on a mobile screen interferes with their sleeping habits, leading to the vastly reduced sleep time.

Family Support

Overweight or obese children should not be allowed to feel isolated. The family should always be there for them and to remain supportive. When you show children that they are accepted no matter what their weight is, they too will adopt this attitude and emotion permitting them to feel good about themselves.

Naturally, families must contact their family physician to determine the exact cause of their weight gain. If the doctor’s exams reveal that a change in diet and lifestyle is required, then everyone will come together and participate. With a little bit of better parenting and encouragement can produce results which medicines often do not.

Encouraging Dining and Physical Activities

Other encouraging options for families to address getting healthier and to lose pounds in their children and themselves is to change how we eat.

• Bring back the family dinner nights. Get the family to sit down together for a family meal each night.
• Change what you eat for dinner with clever food options. For example, instead of French fries, make baked sweet potato fries and use cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes.
• Avoid processed foods. Introduce more fresh fruits and veggies.
• Incorporate more fun activities for the whole family. Invest in bicycles and go bike riding. Take up swimming together. Invest in workout videos for the whole family and choose a night to dance and move along with the video.
• Become more involved in local charity walks and run events.
• If you have a yard, make a game out of clearing away leaves or snow and have fun laughing and playing around.

Getting used to these family lifestyle changes will have you dropping pounds before you realize it. Remaining healthy as a family unit is vital. Let your new life changes become addicted and serve as the new normal. Prolong your children’s life and the family’s with simple changes that benefit everyone.