Prevention of obesity

The main objectives of the prevention of obesity are to decrease the development of overweight in individuals at risk with normal weight, prevent the individual suffering from overweight to being obese and prevent weight gain in those with overweight and obesity, which have managed to lose weight. Suggestions for the prevention of obesity:



Pregnancy
  • Try to normalize the IMC before becoming pregnant.
  • No smoking.
  • Moderate exercise.
  • In gestational diabetes, meticulous control of blood glucose to prevent macrosomia and/or fetal malformations.
Infants
  • Promote breastfeeding for a minimum period of 3 months.
  • Delaying the onset of sugary drinks.
Family
  • A meal at a place with the dedication of time required.
  • Don't skip meals, especially breakfast.
  • Do not watch TV while eating.
  • Use small plates to serve rations.
  • Avoid drinking soft drinks or juices sweetened daily.
  • Restrict to ≪ 2-3 hours time devoted to television, video games and computer.
  • Restrict the consumption of rolls, ice cream, popcorn, candy, snacks, etc.
  • Encourage increased consumption of fruits and vegetables ("5 a day" slogan).
Schools
  • Revised vending machines to serve only healthy products, water and refreshments without sugar.
  • Avoid commercial contracts with companies that serve soft drinks, sweets, buns,trinkets, etc.
  • Install water fountains in different parts of the school campus.
  • To instruct teachers in nutrition education, incorporating this knowledge in the school curriculum of the student.
  • Control of nutritional quality of school meals.
  • Performing daily physical exercise (minimum 30-45 min), non-competitive,encouraging sports groups and explaining the health benefits of regular physical activity practice.
  • Educate children from the preschool to high school about healthy eating and appropriate lifestyles.
  • Encourage the use of public transport to go to school, safe routes for pedestrians or bike lane.
  • Check the posts of sweets, ice cream, etc., in the vicinity of schools.
Community
  • Increase the recreational areas for children and adults of all ages.
  • Discourage whenever feasible the use of lifts or escalators.
  • Provide information on how learn how to buy and select the healthiest foods, learning to interpret the nutritional information labels.
Health personnel
  • Explain the genetic and environmental conditions that may predispose to obesity in children.
  • Tips adequate on the progressive introduction of food.
  • Adequately control the growth weight curves, noting any deviations from the corresponding percentile.
  • Instructions to parents on nutrition and lifestyle healthy.
  • Identification of situations of risk for obesity: pregnancy, lactation, menopause,abandonment of tobacco, cessation of sporting activity, drugs related to weight gain,stressful life situation.
  • Identification of eating behavior and body image disorders.
  • Incorporation of protocols for detection of overweight and obesity, promoting direct measurement of weight, height, waist circumference, as well as the identification of risk factors associated with obesity.
Industry
  • Nutritional labeling suitable, in particular of those foods aimed at children, with colors that indicate graduation of fat or sugar content.
  • Promote interactive kids games so they can learn to select foods.
  • Celebrations, also provide healthy food resources.
Health authorities
  • To recognize obesity as a chronic disease of the first magnitude.
  • Included in the portfolio of services from primary care programs of detection,diagnosis, and treatment of overweight.
  • Find ways to help establish healthy programs: foods that promote obesity and subsidies for the healthiest rates.
  • Promote the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • Controlling misleading advertising.