CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND IMPORTANCE OF YOGA IN OBESE KIDS:
After COVID-19 pandemic, numbers of children with overweight and obesity are significantly rising.: On the International Yoga Day 2022, here are very simple and effective yoga asanas for children:
The COVID-19 lockdown has not only significantly affect the lifestyle of adults but it has also changed the lifestyle and habits of kids as well. A recent study published in journal of Obesity has shown that the Covid-19 lockdown had negatively impact on diet, sleep and physical activity among toddlers, children and adolescent population. The research revealed that during the lockdown, the children ate an additional meal per day, slept an extra half hour per day, and spent nearly five hours per day in front of the phone, television and computer. However, their physical activity, reduced by more than two hours per week.
Staying at home, eating lots of junk foods and not doing physical exercises put them on high risk of developing obesity and its associated co morbities.
Childhood obesity can lead to increase risk of developing co-morbities in children at a very young age such as heart diseases, blood pressure, diabetes, insulin resistance, stroke, dyslipidemia, and polycystic ovarian syndrome in girls etc. Therefore, it is very important for children to follow healthy life style from childhood to stay fit and healthy.
Yoga has all the therapeutic benefits to reduce obesity and prevent obesity related diseases:
Yoga asanas keep the whole body in a proper condition. Regular practice of asanas is useful to reduce fat in various parts of our bodies. Various postures, especially forward bending, twisting and backward bending, help reduce fat near abdomen, hips and other areas. Regular practice of asana helps to achieve ideal body weight. Along with yoga asanas, child should follow a balanced healthy diet, avoid eating junk food and must do simple exercises like walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, skipping etc to maintain an ideal body weight in the long term... Read More