You see it on the playgrounds, at roller rinks, at swimming
pools, and in classrooms. Obesity is a modern health dilemma for
today's children, who are struggling with weight as never
before. It is a difficult problem to combat, given the fact that
you want to make sure that your children are receiving
sufficient amounts of nutrients in their diets. While some
children may outgrow obesity, others carry it with them into
their adult lives. Obesity in children can result in feelings of
fatigue, worthlessness, and hopelessness. It can also place them
at greater risk for diabetes and heart disease.
Just how widespread is the problem? The National Institutes of
Health has determined that, over the last thirty years, the
number of young people with weight problems has increased two
fold. Interestingly enough, the problem is affecting children of
all ages as well as children from all ethnic groups.
Children who are overweight may not develop socially as fast as
their peers. They can become loners, finding it difficult to
make friends. They may think that their weight is beyond their
control and they may not know what to do in order to attempt to
prevent weight gain. In essence, obese children can become our
lost generation.
The parents of these children may not realize how detrimental
obesity is to their children's emotional health. They may
consider the obesity just a passing phase and they may not
understand the psychological devastation that obesity can cause.
They may even dismiss the concerns of their children, hoping
that the problem will simply go away.
The causes of childhood obesity can be complex. However, there
do appear to be a few identifiable triggers. For instance, many
families now eat on the run because of their many commitments.
Parents may not think they have time to prepare nutritious
meals for their children, so they rely on fast food and sugary
snacks to fill in the gaps. As a result, children end up eating
a diet that's rich in fat and sugar but which offers little in
the way of nutritional value. According to the American Obesity
Association, one third of parents believe their children's
dietary habits are worse than theirs were during their own
childhoods. Another key problem is inactivity. Children watch
more than a full day's worth of television each week. That's in
addition to the hours they devote to their computers. As a
result, they're not playing outside as much as children of
generations past. Also, many children may feel as if they cannot
participate in sports because of their weight. Feeling defeated
before they even start, they pass up opportunities to engage in
physical activities.
It has been shown that children tend to be heavily influenced
by advertising. Unfortunately, many commercials tout foods that
can be best classified as unhealthy. Children crave what they
see on TV and in movie theaters and they may not realize what
these foods will do to their bodies.
Luckily, childhood obesity can be successfully conquered. Here
are a few tips to help your child overcome a weight problem:
* Encourage your child to take part in sports or dance. If your
son or daughter is self-conscious about being a part of a team,
exercise with him or her. Take out a ball and shoot a few hoops
or turn on the stereo and begin to dance. You may be surprised
that, with just a little encouragement, your child will get up
and start moving.
* Consider limiting TV time. Research clearly shows that TV
time is unproductive time for children and teens. If your
children spend less time watching TV, they may spend more time
exercising.
* Ban junk food from your home. With a little push, children
will become accustomed to eating healthy snacks such as fruit
and vegetables.
* Check with your child's pediatrician to see if he or she can
recommend some specific weight control strategies.
Childhood obesity is a problem, but it is not insurmountable.
The greater the interest you show in your child's diet and
exercise regimen, the more influence you will have over your
child. In time, your child can learn the strategies necessary
for a healthy life.
About the author:
As a Teacher of Sport and Physical Education, Tony Robinson has
a keen interest in Health and Weight Loss issues. For handy
hints and tips for weight loss visit
http://www.weight-loss-arena.com
