Kids can’t weight FOR HOLIDAYS

THE VACATIONS ARE HERE. BUT BEWARE OF THE EXCESS WEIGHT THAT YOUR HOME-BOUND CHILD IS PRONE TO GAIN TIMES NEWS NETWORK

The six-week summer break is when your child is more likely to fatten up, says a study.

The Chennai slim-and-fit programme – a project for childhood obesity prevention by MV Hospital for diabetes – assessed the weight of 128 overweight and obese children in CBSE schools before and after holidays in 2011. It showed that 93% of children had put on weight after holidays. Among those who showed an uptick in weight, more than one in 10 had a 20% increase.

When schools shut, most children tend to eat without burning the stacked-up calories, leading to weight gain. And it’s necessary to get your kids out of the couch and show the door – to the playground. Teachers in CBSE schools warn that overweight children are less likely to grow out of the fat, turning them into obese adults.

Doctors say it is not a coincidence that most overweight children start packing on the pounds during holidays. When at school, students are constantly on the move. But during holidays, they idle at home, watching TV, reading books or surfing internet. Parents too are happy to not let kids out of the sight, freezing them up in the house for most of the day.

During counselling sessions at schools, children admit parents and grandparents featherbed them during holidays. Diabetologist Dr Vijay Vishwanathan says most children said they visited their grandparents’ houses during the break, where they got to lay their hands on yummy (read rich) foods. Children stuff themselves up with treats such as milk sweets, chocolates or fried foods like muruku’ and thatais. “They never let the kids out as it would be too hot, and the safety of kids, too, is high up on their mind,” he says.

At school, counsellors like Dr A Vigneshwari, an epidemiologist, have been tutoring children on having regular eating schedule -- including a breakfast. Children tend to sleep past breakfast time on holidays and parents give them on brunch. Those who have morning meal tend to eat less for lunch and are less likely to go tip-toeing around the shelves for candies, cookies, she says. Children who skip breakfast every day may be twice as likely to be obese, research has suggested.

CBSE schools that are part of the slim-and-fit progamme have told children to eat calorierich foods in moderation. Even at parties children have been asked to wink at dessert after one serving.

Children aren’t completely averse to the idea. “It’s going to be difficult to say no to more than one or two treats. But now I know treats made of butter, milk and sugar are high on calories. If I eat more, I will feel guilty,” says nine-yearold R Anirudh, who will be off to Coimbatore to meet his grandparents.

Anirudh has also registered for a swimming and football camps for four weeks. He plans to set aside one hour each day for physical activity. He and a group of six friends will also maintain a scrapbook, where they would record everything they eat and the calories they spend. “We are eager to check their weight after they come back. This is their first year of holidays after counseling. Hope the weighing scales won’t trip,” says Dr Vigneswari.