One of the key effects of childhood obesity on learning is the fact that eating becomes a routine, almost unconscious activity. Children do not particularly appreciate being asked to sit down for a long time, especially if that time is not theirs. When the food is served, it usually looks as though it will never be digested. And so the effect of childhood obesity on learning is that there is little chance for correction or revision. There are probably many other effects of childhood obesity on learning, but these are the two that most educators and parents focus on.
But what can parents and teachers do about this? The obvious answer is that they should help their children to eat at different times. But what about when they are hungry? This is another one of the effects of childhood obesity on learning. You see, children have natural appetites and they will usually eat when the mood takes them.
It can take child hours, days, or weeks to learn to set a good example by eating healthily and getting enough sleep. But a child that is consistently hungry cannot make the transition from casual eating to healthy eating. Parents can help by setting a good example. If you eat at every mealtime and you get up several times during the day to feed your family, you may become the stereotypical hungry parent. If you don't monitor what you are eating, but just make it when you are hungry, you may set the standard for your children.
Another one of the effects of childhood obesity on learning is that children tend to dislike the idea of counting calories and fat grams. This is a natural development, of course, but it can limit the range of options available to them. Children who think that portion size matters are more likely to pursue fitness and keep active. But when the child's choices are limited, they are unlikely to see how much better their lives could be if they chose healthy foods instead of fatty, sugary, or fattening ones.
Some studies have suggested that eating smaller portions makes a child-resistant to temptation. This is yet another of the effects of childhood obesity on learning. Children who feel uncomfortable with changing their eating habits are more likely to do so. And when you make it difficult to eat healthily, it can be hard for your kids to imagine life without sweets, ice creams, and fried foods.
Some parents start eating smaller portions when their child is still a toddler. The thinking goes, if the toddler starts eating healthy, his body will develop the same way. Unfortunately, this often leads to unhealthy eating habits for the next few years. Instead of tiny bits, your toddler may be eating tiny pieces of whatever seems delicious to them at the time.
There's nothing wrong with encouraging your child's participation in eating healthy meals. After all, children need to learn about nutrition in order to keep themselves healthy and happy. But when a child sees a glass of chocolate and starts thinking about how many calories it has, he's already vulnerable. That chocolate isn't a substitute for real food and having a toddler who eats unhealthy foods can have long-lasting effects on his weight and his health in general.
The effects of childhood obesity on learning cannot be avoided. Even if your family is doing everything it can to help your child become a good eater, you must remember to encourage the right choices. Don't just focus on getting your child to eat healthily. Make sure he knows why those choices are good as well. Help him understand why smaller portions are better than junk food and what good nutrition looks like in real food.
