As a parent, you want your children to grow into healthy, happy adults and for that, you give them all the love and care they deserve.
However, it’s not only in your hands to shape your kid’s future as they face an array of challenges along the way. From emotional disturbances to physical aches and pains to outside influences, there are a lot of issues that shape your child’s life.
As a parent and a part of a progressive society, it is important to teach your children to deal with these factors together.
Here are the top 5 health concerns that you should have on your radar when it comes to children's health.
- Obesity
Childhood obesity tops the list of health concerns. Obesity rates among children in Canada have nearly tripled in 30 years. Currently, 1 in 4 children are either overweight or obese and these children are likely to become adults who are overweight or obese. Obesity increases the chances of them having heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and cancer as adults.
The solution is to help children understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. They need to become active, get some physical activity and eat healthy foods and you need to set an example.
- Bullying
A kind of regular thing for about 10% of kids, about half of all children experience bullying at some point in their life. It can cause severe effects on a child’s physical, emotional, mental and social well-being and research shows the effects can last for decades.
The solution depends on the unique situation, however, children don't need to face bullies alone. As parents and guardians and schools and communities we need to get involved and teach our children to fight against bullying and also not be a bully.
- Stress
Adults aren't the only ones who feel stress. Children too feel stressed and it can cause lifetime problems. They might have physical after effects of stress such as headaches, stomach aches, sleep issues, or nightmares. Some children also become depressed, withdrawn or angry, throw tantrums, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, or have failing grades.
Most children feel stress when they don't feel safe or cannot talk about things out loud or when they don't spend enough time with loved ones or had to go through a trauma or loss. As a parent, you cannot take away all the stress, however, you can give your children a safe and loving environment and help develop a support system to help them manage stress better.
- Substance Abuse
Be it alcohol, tobacco or drugs, children these days are falling prey to a lot of substances that eventually disturbs their life in a lot of ways. Children who start smoking as teens are more likely to develop a severe addiction to tobacco. Teen alcohol use is another big concern as it may affect long-term memory, and learning ability and further add to physical health issues. Prescription drug abuse is another big worry.
The solution is to look out for signs and peers. Talk to your children regularly to understand where they are standing and share your concerns with them. Seek medical help if necessary.
- Anxiety and Depression
An estimated 3% of children from the age of 3 to 17 years suffer from depression and 7% have anxiety. The percentage tends to be higher among teenagers and older children between the ages of 12 to 17. Many children aren’t diagnosed and so do not get the needed help and the chances of drug abuse and self-harm, including suicide, go up.
Timely diagnosis and treatment are important, It can help your child get back to a normal, happy life. Parents, teachers, and other adults need to know the warning signs which include withdrawing from once-loved activities, spending more time alone, having trouble sleeping and more.
Want to learn more about children’s health concerns to help treat and prevent them? Check out our blogs related to children’s health or find a provider who can help you address your questions about children’s health concerns.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog or in any linked material is not intended and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For holistic health advice and consultation, visit https://www.mywellself.ca/.
