Childhood Obesity is Rampant,but it's controllable. Childhood obesity has doubled over the last 20 years, and, amazingly, teen obesity has tripled during the same time frame! While researching this page, I spent a little time thinking about my own childhood. I was overweight from the time I was 12 years old. My mom cooked great food, there was always plenty of nutrition involved, and we weren't allowed to overeat. So, what was the problem that included me in that "childhood obesity" group? I didn't realize it then, but I developed a love of books that kept me inside reading more and more as I got older. Now reading is a great thing, but not at the expense of exercise! And that brings us to the leading cause of childhood obesity today- lack of physical activity. Most children need at least an hour of heightened physical activity like riding a bicycle, running, climbing, and things like that. I had a childhood friend named Mike Rutt whose dad did crazy things with him all the time, and they invited me to come with them once. We went to a trainyard in Des Moines, and climbed up on the top of the boxcars and walked along the roof of each car! I'd never done such a thing before, and haven't since. The point was that his dad was always looking for fun, outdoorsy things to do to spend quality time with his son. We had a blast that day. This is the greatest thing for young people pre-disposed to childhood obesity, or who already suffer from being overweight. We spend a lot of energy on this web site talking and teaching about healthy eating habits. We even spend a good deal of time talking about exercising. When it comes to children, while diet is important, and if you have a child or grandchild that you care for who is suffering from childhood obesity, nothing compares to or is as effective as physical activity. If you want to see your child lose weight, get her out of the house, and onto the playground or park. Go ride bikes with her, take her swimming, hiking, camping. We camped alot as kids, and my mom would always get as far away from the restrooms as possible, so we had to walk a long way to get to them. There was no way around that exercise when you had to go! Are you still with me? We started talking about exercise here for a couple of reasons. First, most kids today spend far too much time in front of the television, computer monitor, and video game console. There are some brand new interactive video games that get them exercising, and these are phenomenal. I recently bought a dance program for a good friend with four kids who loved to play video games. It was quite a thrill to watch them playing this game, dancing and competing with each other until they fell down exhausted, laughing and loving the time they spent together. Their mom even got in on the fun and danced with them. I know what you're thinking, "Did you dance with them, Ken?" Not a chance! I can't dance! But, it was fun to watch them, and they played it non-stop. It was great exercise, and very therapeutic for the family. These are the sorts of things you can do with children to get them up and moving.
Childhood Obesity and FoodWhile we discuss food and diet so much on this web site, I really wanted to hit the exercise side on this page because, with children, adults usually control the diets. Our children eat what we feed them, and we usually feed them what we eat. While it's one thing for adults to diet, children are another story altogether. Children need their nutrients, vitamins, essential fats and calories.Be careful about cutting back on childrens' food. It's important to see that children get enough nutrition to grow on. Before cutting calories, get the kids started on a physical action program. Often, this is the only necessary change to help them slim down. If, after a few months of increased physical activity, you sense that the diet needs to change, then start by cutting portions, reducing sweets, and serving healthier foods.
Probably the worst problem among children regarding diet is soda. Our primary drink, up until just a few decades ago, was
water.
Today, if you ask anyone under 18 what they drink most, it will likely be soda. In order to get weight under control, we must encourage our children to drink more water and less soda.
Of course, they learn by example, so drink more water, and have it in the refrigerator so they have the opportunity to grab it when they're thirsty. Also, more natural fruit juices will help. Be sure to check the label to make sure there are no artificial sweeteners, sugar, or fructose added. Some juice labels are very misleading. Almost all children love to snack. This is normal, and often indicates their bodies need for more nutrition. So, let them eat, but have healthy snacks handy for them. This could include low-fat yogurt, cheese and milk, fresh fruit, graham crackers, fresh, fun to eat vegetables like baby carrots, and things like popcorn and nuts. A great way to help kids eat better is to make meal time and snack time fun, including introducing new, healthy foods, and eating at a table instead of in front of a television. Mom's! Here's an exciting new Weight Loss Program
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Bikini Bodies Weight Loss Program One Last Thing, Most Important!This section is the hardest for me to write. When I was 14, I had a great family, a good home, was receiving an excellent education in the Des Moines, Iowa, public school system, was active in my church, and was basically a happy teenager. But, I weighed over 150 pounds. I was extremely overweight, and fairly miserable about my size. It is very painful to be young and overweight. Kids are not nice to each other when it comes to obesity. Half a lifetime later, a therapist told me that one of the most important reasons for whatever success I had or would have in my life was the love of my church, friends and family. But, as a teenager, there were plenty of times when all I felt was fat.Psychologists say that childhood obesity is a primary cause for depression, learning and behavior disorders, sleep problems, and even asthma. Besides guiding our children to better eating and exercising habits, the most important thing we can do for them is love them, unconditionally. We must show them that while being overweight is unhealthy, it doesn't make them unlovable. It is almost impossible to motivate negative behavior, meaning the only way to help them get healthy is to lovingly guide them to better choices and lifestyles. If you were ever overweight as a child, no further explanation is necessary. If not, please take my word for it- these children need love even more than they need exercise. If you have an overweight child or grandchild, or, if you just know of some obese children, reach out and share your heart with that child, and let them know how much they mean to you, and help them get on the right track to a healthy future. Back to Home Page
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