An hour of physical activity a day reduces the risk of childhood obesity by 40%.

The Department of Health Education at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah reported a high rate of obesity in children every 10 years, stressing that obesity affects the mental health of the child as well as his general health, which leads to the emergence of health problems in children at a young age.

And she directed, during a booklet she recently issued on childhood obesity, which "Emirates Today" obtained a copy of, that children under 18 years of age should allocate an hour a day to play, move and exercise physical activities such as running in parks or riding bicycles in places designated and safe for children, playing on beaches, and others. One of the activities preferred by children, stressing that an hour of daily physical activity for a child makes him less likely to become obese by 40%.

The Health Education Department explained that if the child is obese, he should be encouraged to practice physical activity through the activities he prefers, and to start gradually so that he can practice it for a longer time.

It identified 7 benefits of physical activity for children: enhancing self-confidence and social relationships in children, increasing concentration and learning levels, helping to strengthen muscles and bones, improving general fitness and heart health, helping to maintain a healthy weight, and improving sleep quality, as well as improving Mood.

She stated that nutrition has an important role for the child's physical and mental health, calling for attention to the quality of the child's nutrition since the beginning of eating food at the age of 6 months, by avoiding canned and processed and canned foods, relying on fresh food in preparing food, avoiding foods rich in sugar, salt and colored materials, and choosing vegetables. Fresh and organic fruits.

The Health Education Department called on caregivers to pay attention to providing the child with healthy eating habits, such as: chewing food well before swallowing it, stopping food when feeling full, and not forcing the child to finish his plate, eating slowly, and eating when feeling hungry, while eating small quantities. Diversity of food sources in one meal.

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