The chubby child mytg<\/a>\nIn our society, a round, chubby child is still viewed as healthy – a symbol of prosperity and good parenting. Out of love and societal expectations, parents often overfeed their children, unknowingly doing more harm than good.
\nIt\u2019s time to shift our cultural mindset.
\nHealth is not about weight; it is about balance – between food and exercise, indulgence and discipline.<\/p>\nChildhood Obesity in Nepal
\nTraditionally, Nepal\u2019s health challenges revolved around undernutrition. However, recent studies reveal a new reality.<\/p>\n
According to the Nepal Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2022:
\n\u2022 69% of children aged 6\u201323 months consumed unhealthy foods.
\n\u2022 43% were given sweet beverages instead of healthier options like water.<\/p>\n
Childhood obesity may not yet be a top concern in every Nepali household, but the statistics show that it soon could be.<\/p>\n
Without intervention, these children face increased risks of:
\n\u2022 Type 2 diabetes
\n\u2022 High blood pressure
\n\u2022 Heart diseases
\n\u2022 Mental health challenges like low self-esteem and depression
\n\u2022 Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa<\/p>\n
Diseases that once appeared in adulthood are now affecting children and this growing health crisis threatens to strain Nepal’s healthcare system in the coming years.<\/p>\n
What Is Behind This Shift?
\nSeveral urban lifestyle changes are driving the obesity epidemic:<\/p>\n
1. Changing Diets
\nTraditional home-cooked meals are being replaced by:
\n\u2022 Instant noodles
\n\u2022 Fried snacks
\n\u2022 Ultra-processed junk foods
\n\u2022 Sugary drinks like sodas and packaged juices<\/p>\n
2. Rising Screen Time
\nChildren today spend more hours on phones, tablets, and televisions than they do outdoors. The playground has been replaced by a study desk and smartphone screen.<\/p>\n
3. Academic Pressure
\nIncreasing academic demands have squeezed out physical activity. With homework, tuition and exam preparation taking priority, exercise and playtime have become afterthoughts.<\/p>\n
4. Socioeconomic Factors
\nInterestingly, higher socioeconomic status can sometimes correlate with higher obesity rates, due to easy access to calorie-dense foods and less emphasis on active living.<\/p>\n
5. School Practices
\nMany schools, despite health advice, still offer unhealthy food options in their cafeterias. Children have little choice but to consume what is served.<\/p>\n
How Can We Tackle Childhood Obesity?
\nThe good news: Childhood obesity is preventable.<\/p>\n
But it requires a team effort from families, schools, communities and policymakers.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how we can begin:
\nAt Home
\n\u2022 Mindful Eating : Teach children to focus on their food instead of screens while eating.
\n\u2022 Fruit and Vegetable Intake : Ensure 4\u20135 servings of seasonal fruits and vegetables daily. Use creative recipes like vegetable fried rice, parathas or cutlets to make veggies appealing.
\n\u2022 Healthy Hydration: Encourage water over sweetened drinks, including juices, sodas, boba tea, etc.
\n\u2022 80-20 Rule: Aim for 80% wholesome home-cooked meals and allow 20% indulgence or treats.
\n\u2022 Avoid Junk Food as Bribes: We often bribe our kids with the promise of chocolate, ice cream, pizzas, etc. For example, we mindlessly say, if you finish your homework, I will take you out for an ice-cream. This cycle makes them believe that the junk food we bribe them with is superior to other meals and therefore must be earned. Instead of offering junk food as rewards, find non-food rewards like a day out, a new book or extra playtime.
\n\u2022 Daily Activity: Just like we assign screen time for them, allocate 60 minutes for outdoor physical activity every day. Introduce “No Screen Days” and replace them with family hikes, bike rides or games.
\n\u2022 Prioritize Sleep: Ensure children have consistent, early bedtimes to aid their growth and recovery.
\n\u2022 Lead by Example: Parents must model healthy eating and active lifestyles.<\/p>\n
At Schools
\n\u2022 Offer healthier, nutritious lunch options.
\n\u2022 Incorporate nutrition education into the curriculum.
\n\u2022 Promote physical activities and outdoor play as much as academic excellence.<\/p>\n
In the Community
\n\u2022 Create safe outdoor spaces like parks and playgrounds.
\n\u2022 Launch awareness programs about the importance of nutrition and physical activity.<\/p>\n
Through Policy
\n\u2022 Regulate the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children.
\n\u2022 Make nutritious food options accessible and affordable for all.<\/p>\n
A Call for Collective Action
\nNepal stands at a crossroads. As we continue to modernize and grow, we must ensure that our children do not inherit lifestyles that rob them of their health and happiness. Addressing childhood obesity today is an investment in a stronger, healthier tomorrow. Let\u2019s raise awareness today for a healthier Nepal tomorrow.
\nHealthy habits start early. Let’s help our children grow into the bright, strong future they deserve.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ms Praniti Singh With over 10 years of experience in the field of Nutrition, Ms. Praniti Singh is a Clinical Nutritionist & the first Bariatric Nutritionist of Nepal. She is currently working at Norvic International Hospital and is a Gold Medalist in M. Sc. Foods & Nutrition from Amity University, India and the recipient of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":7769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[95,39,37,326,90,42,93],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-disease","category-feature","category-health","category-health-nutrition","category-holistic-health","category-in-the-news","category-treatment"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/medicosnext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/little-girl-with-hair-pigtails-style-copy-space-e1747810770476.jpg?fit=388%2C413&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/110"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7767"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7770,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7767\/revisions\/7770"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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