In recent years, as in the world, cases of obesity among children are increasing in Azerbaijan as well. According to doctors, this situation poses serious risks both health-wise and psychologically.
1. Sedentary lifestyle
As a result of the widespread use of technology, children spend most of their time in front of phones, tablets, and computers. Outdoor games and physical activity have significantly decreased compared to previous generations.
2. Wrong eating habits
The use of fast food, carbonated drinks, sweets, and packaged products has increased. These foods are high in calories but low in nutritional value. Vegetables, fruits, and healthy proteins are not sufficiently included in children's daily diet.
3. Parents' approach to nutrition
Sometimes parents encourage children to eat sweets or chips when they do not want to eat. This habit forms wrong eating behavior from an early age.
4. Psychological factors
Stress, school pressure, and social adaptation difficulties can cause emotional eating in children. This inevitably leads to overweight.
5. Genetic predisposition
If there are many overweight people in the family, the risk of obesity in children increases. However, specialists emphasize that a proper lifestyle can minimize the effect of genetic predisposition.
6. Lack of sleep
Poor and insufficient sleep disrupts the balance of hormones that increase appetite. This causes children to eat more.
Pediatricians warn: Childhood obesity can result in diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and joint problems in the future.
