There was a time when it was a common sight to see kids playing on the playground or running up and down the street in the afternoons following their school day. I remember my mother having to “call me in” for dinner because I was soo involved in playtime. I dreaded to hear her voice yelling for me down the street. Ahh…those were the good old days. But, at the time, we had no idea how “GOOD” those days really were!
Fast forward many years and here we are in 2011. The economy is in such bad shape that cuts are being made left and right. These cuts oftentimes include the cutting of physical education programs in schools. Also, as much as I personally LOVE technology, the hard fact is that the advent of recent video games and other “gadgets” has made playing hopscotch or dodge ball less attractive to our youth. Instead, they rush home, plop down in front the the TV, load up on fast food, and play “Call of Duty” for hours on their computers!
These facts have played into the recent epidemic of childhood obesity that has swept our nation like a plague. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008, over one third of our children were classified as overweight or obese. The obesity rate has TRIPLED over the past 30 years for kids. Nowadays, kids are consuming many more calories than they expend (or burn off playing basketball or riding a bike) in recent years. The latest news tells us that children under the age of 6 are now prone to obesity and those statistics are on the rise. And the increase in Type 2 Diabetes in young people is steadily growing.
It was bad enough for us, as adults, to “battle the bulge”. Now, this problem has crept into the lives of our kids. So what can we do? Recently, organizations such as Weight Watchers has recently offered FREE weight loss classes for children to help do their part in tackling the childhood obesity epidemic. But what can we (moms, dads, aunts, cousins, siblings) do to conquer this problem that could be getting out of control in our very homes?! Here are just a few simple suggestions that could make a HUGE impact on your health as well as your teen or child:
1) TURN OFF THE TV! Sounds simple, huh? Well it may not be if your teen or child has been conditioned to view the TV or computer as an extended family member. Instead, why not try setting aside a certain amount of time for family interaction each day or a least a few times a week that includes walks or going to the gym together.
2) Boycott Fast Food! I love a McDonald’s french fry ever now and then myself, but it is not wise to make this part of an everyday menu…for us adults as well as for our youth. Get them in the habit of eating fruits, veggies, and drinking PLENTY of water on a daily basis and leave the occasional run to Burger King for the weekend or better yet….maybe once or twice a month.
3) Pick “healthier” food on the menu. Even at fast food restaurants, it is usually better to get the chicken sandwich instead of the double cheeseburger! Most restaurants and fast food chains are offering healthier choices like apples and yogurt.
4) Become a label reader. Start training kids to read labels and educate them on the harmful effects of too much sodium or fat. Teach them how to watch their calorie intake. Do it together…you BOTH will benefit
5) Talk to the doctor. If the above changes are not yielding changes in your already overweight teen or child, then it may be time to talk to your doctor to address any possible underlying issues. The sooner the issue is caught and addressed, the faster your child can be on his or her way to a healthier life.
Until next time…
Blessings!
Traci
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