Obese children eat fat, is it okay or not?

The risk of obesity lurks not only adults, but also children. This condition is usually caused by children getting a lot of calorie intake from unhealthy foods. Since fat contributes a lot of calories, can obese children still eat foods that contain fat?

Obesity in children is not only caused by fatty foods

Being overweight and obese in children is caused by various factors. The most common causes include heredity, psychological factors, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and a combination of these factors.

Obesity cases often occur in children who often eat high-calorie foods. These large calories usually come from fast food, junk food, sweet pastries, snacks, candy, desserts, and sweet drinks.

On the other hand, children who eat fatty foods are not necessarily obese. Obesity tends to occur because children eat too much sugar-containing foods. These foods are high in calories, but poor in nutrients.

Excess sugar intake will be converted into fat cells. The more often the child consumes sugar, the more fat cells are formed. If children rarely do physical activity, fat deposits can increase in size and lead to obesity.

In addition, excess sugar also triggers obesity by interfering with the work of the hormone leptin. The function of the leptin hormone is to provide a feeling of fullness. Excess sugar intake can reduce the brain's ability to respond to these hormonal signals. As a result, children often feel hungry and want to eat more.

Although fat is synonymous with weight gain, the mastermind behind childhood obesity is actually sugar and a lack of physical activity. Even children who are obese can eat foods containing fat, the most important thing is not excessive amounts.

How to provide healthy fat intake for obese children

Fat has a number of functions for child development. The child's body needs fat to produce energy, build brain cells and nervous system, form hormones, coat organs, and absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Although useful, you need to pay attention to the type of fat consumed by your little one. Give him more healthy unsaturated fats. On the other hand, limit your intake of saturated and trans fats, which are abundant in sweet snacks.

Children who are obese can still eat foods that contain fat. However, there are some adjustments you need to make. Among them:

Choose healthier sources of fat in the form of avocado, olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish.
Provides low-fat milk and lean meat.
Read food packaging labels, because food products are labeled 'fat-free'Sometimes contains added sugars that are high in calories.
Limit consumption of sugar and sweet foods.
Limit consumption of processed foods. Instead, provide your little one with whole, natural foods.
Reduce cooking by method deep-frying. You can replace it by sautéing, grilling, or steaming.

Fat can indeed add weight. However, this does not mean that obese children should not eat foods that contain fat. Even children with obesity still need fat intake for their growth and development.

The thing that makes the difference is the type of fat they consume. Parents may provide fat intake, but prioritize fat from the healthy types. Do not forget, take your little one to exercise so that his body is more active in burning calories. If obesity continues, immediately consult a pediatrician.