If you have recently found yourself fretting over your child's waistline, you are not alone. The youth of today are fatter than ever before, and parents are starting to panic. Why are our kids so big, and what should we do about it?
Childhood obesity has been described as an epidemic. It puts our children's health at risk, making them more susceptible to problems involving their cardiovascular systems, endocrine systems, and even their mental health. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression, and low self-esteem are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems looming over the heads of our overweight children.
It is ironic that both the problem and the solution to this heavy problem boil down to one simple equation. Energy In vs. Energy Out. When more energy is consumed than is utilized, the result is fat storage. In short, our kids eat too much and do too little.
Energy In
The Problem: Parents today are busier than ever before, navigating through hectic schedules with convenient fast food restaurants lurking on every corner. Our kids are eating more fried, processed, and sugary foods than we did as children due mainly to the convenience factor. These foods are laden with excessive calories that result in weight gain.
The Solution: Take time to evaluate your children's diet. Do they eat three balanced meals a day? Do they eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day? Are they limited in their servings of fried, processed, and sugary foods? Avoid buying sugar-filled snacks while grocery shopping, fill your cart with fresh, healthy snacks instead. Make time to plan family meals so that you don't find yourself in another drive thru.
Energy Out
The Problem: Computers, video games, and satellite T.V. are our children's latest and greatest toys. Who has time to play outside when you are about to beat the hardest level, or your favorite show is about to start? Our kids participate in less physical activity and are more sedentary than any generation before.
The Solution: Limit the time your children spend on sedentary activities, such as T.V and video games. Sign your kids up on a local sports team so that they can run and be active with other kids. Take the whole family to the park on a weekend instead of gathering in front of the T.V.
As a parent, it is your unique responsibility to teach your children the healthy habits that lead to good health. Children who are obese have a greater chance of remaining obese into adulthood, thus greatly increasing the likelihood of serious health problems. Talk to your children about their eating habits, and activity levels, informing them of good choices versus bad choices. Make it a family effort to start eating healthier and increase physical activities, and you will be pleasantly surprised with the results!
Diana Keuilian, author, ACE certified Personal Trainer, and co-founder of HitechTrainer.com offers online personal training and nutrition programs that fit your budget and schedule. Whether your goal is to lose weight, firm and tone, or to build muscle, HitechTrainer.com will build a custom designed program just for you.
Visit: http://www.hitechtrainer.com/ and begin meeting your fitness goals today!
whole house cleaning Highland Park ..Well, look at you go! You keep moving closer and... Read More
Gastric bypass surgeries are temporary physical fixes to a long... Read More
Water is an essential component of the human body and... Read More
Well we're at it again, trying to honor our promise... Read More
Lose Weight - Grab A GlassIn childhood, we heard it:... Read More
When I decided to lose weight I of course decided... Read More
No matter what the reason, successful weight loss and healthy... Read More
LivingAfterWLS reader feedback indicates snacking is the single biggest problem... Read More
Weight Loss ? Basic Lessons for Sustained SuccessWeight loss is... Read More
* Not walking on a treadmill everyday for 45 minutes... Read More
Eating when under stress isn't just about filling an emotional... Read More
I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More
Don't diet, just eat and lose weight!First, the following "diet"... Read More
America is getting more obese every year. Even our children... Read More
For those of you who aren't familiar with ephedra let... Read More
Gastric bypass patients often find themselves regaining weight soon after... Read More
We think we know everything there is to know about... Read More
You've done everything right this time. You're eating lots of... Read More
How do we know what we know? Often, our knowledge... Read More
This year, we all made some of the typical New... Read More
As our country gains weight at an alarming rate, we... Read More
I just read this conventional diet tip ? and we've... Read More
I wonder how much it is generally known that the... Read More
Choosing the right diet type is the most important decision... Read More
Yes, you read it right?no diets!The first step in this... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Glenview ..Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
If you want to reduce your body fat, focus on... Read More
Just like any other diet, the Atkins diet can become... Read More
At the University of Illinois, a new research found that... Read More
If you are among the millions of people searching for... Read More
These days, Jennifer Secrist has little interest in idle activities.... Read More
We've entered the Twilight Zone when it comes to the... Read More
This little known secret has been used by bodybuilders for... Read More
America is getting more obese every year. Even our children... Read More
Want to shed that beer belly? Why not try the... Read More
More than 70% of US adults are overweight and that... Read More
Speculating on the scientifically proven memory unreliability, the memory specialist... Read More
One of the most talked about topics in any political... Read More
It can happen with one bite. The moment those refined... Read More
Quick weight loss is promised by diets all the time.... Read More
Browsing one of the Russian websites I have recently found... Read More
Cellulite - Reduce The Appearance --------------------------------- Sallie Elizabeth has always... Read More
College weight gain is at an all time high, and... Read More
Many Americans include health improvement in their New Year's Resolutions.... Read More
Individuals who are interested in bariatric surgery need to be... Read More
I did it without starving myself or taking pills. How... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
Our bodies only require a small amount of salt for... Read More
Your success in sticking with an exercise and weight loss... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
Weight Loss |