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!
move in cleaning service Lake Forest ..There are all kinds of fad diets and quick fixes... Read More
You have noticed your obese friend suddenly slimmer. You want... Read More
If you are losing, trying to lose, or think you... Read More
With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of... Read More
Many gastric bypass patients report melon to be one of... Read More
You know what is so amazing? We get to keep... Read More
Telling yourself you have to "struggle with this weight issue... Read More
In the last 12 months or so, low carbohydrate diets... Read More
Throughout my childhood and teenage years I watched as my... Read More
There are tons of fad diets and weight loss schemes... Read More
I've talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients... Read More
I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More
Hannah was distressed that, with all the inner work she... Read More
What is cellulite? Ask a doctor and he will probably... Read More
You won't believe what happened to me today!I was getting... Read More
For years we heard that a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet would... Read More
Low Carb diets have become as popular as apple pie... Read More
I was shocked. I started to cry...After the holidays, I... Read More
Whew! So how did you do on that last lesson?... Read More
We have all set them, and we will revisit them... Read More
? Can you give me an exercise that will get... Read More
Just because you're working hard, doesn't mean that you're working... Read More
What the Diet Industry Does Not Want You To Know:... Read More
Ephedra has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of... Read More
The math is pretty simple. One pound of fat equals... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Glenview ..Close kept secrets to weight loss: Give me 9 days... Read More
Dieters dread the plateau. You're on a roll, losing weight... Read More
Debunking The Ab MythAb training has been done to death... Read More
I just came back from three days in Las Vegas.... Read More
Well, look at you go! You keep moving closer and... Read More
If all we have to do is exercise to live... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
Did you know that how and when you eat is... Read More
World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More
There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More
Dieting and Exercising ? Results all the time!To be successful... Read More
1. Become aware of what you are eating.Before I started... Read More
How's this for a diet: Take in fewer calories than... Read More
Weight training combines building muscle tone and working the cardiovascular... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
We must all now be familiar with the Atkins Diet.... Read More
A frequent question brand-new gastric bypass patients ask is "How... Read More
The incidences of deseases like obesity, diabetes, colon deseases etc.are... Read More
Eighteen or twenty years ago, I was into high protein,... Read More
These days, Jennifer Secrist has little interest in idle activities.... Read More
First? establish realistic goals. Start with a target you can... Read More
"Hey, you have reduced now, compared to the last time... Read More
The human body is designed to run best on a... Read More
For the person who wants to shed a few pounds... Read More
Do you know this year Florida will go through a... Read More
Weight Loss |