Dieting Side Effects in Children
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010One very troubling recent trend is the increasing number of obese children. This condition has become much more common over the last few decades in many developed nations. However, it is no longer limited to the countries in the west. More and more emerging and developing countries also report record high numbers of children obesity.
It is more than a cliché to say that children are the future of a nation. The way we bring up our children is an investment into the way a country is going to be in several generations. Therefore, steps must be taken to deal with this situation. The purpose of this article is to present some of the side effects of dieting that can occur in children.
Undergrowth
Children years and puberty are the only time in a person’s life when we experience growth. Growth may be hindered if there are factors that interfere with its normal functioning. Severe obesity affects very negatively the abilities of the body to grow at a normal rate as well as severe dieting. Therefore, parents must not force an obese child in any sort of extreme diet without consulting a specialist first.
Gastroenteric Problems
Special glands in our digestive system are responsible for the production and secretion of a variety of acids that help digest the food we eat. These quantities increase when the body is already used to an increased intake of food. Dieting can involve irregular meal times, skipping meals and changing the composition of the food. Therefore, the released acid can harm the stomach and the intestines resulting in the formation of stomach ulcer or inflammation of the stomach.
Smaller amount of food can also lead to constipation. This is due to the fact that the intestines are not used to this smaller amount of food and they may be less active and work with less strength. In order to deal with this the child must eat more fiber rich products that help the digestive system clear itself from waste.