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!
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareLet's face facts; obesity is ripe today in America and... Read More
We have plans for everything these days. That is how... Read More
There's a dirty little secret in the diet industry. The... Read More
The Atkins low-carb diet consists of four phases: Induction, Ongoing... Read More
A state of emergency has been recently put on European... Read More
Some of you will not like what I'm going to... Read More
One may think that on a website called "LivingAfterWLS" you... Read More
Dieters dread the plateau. You're on a roll, losing weight... Read More
Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of... Read More
How was it for you? Did you get through the... Read More
Dealing with your sweet-tooth can be one of the greatest... Read More
Recently, I read an article from Japanese magazine that by... Read More
According to a new study appearing in the American Journal... Read More
Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.Take... Read More
Gastric bypass patients often find themselves regaining weight soon after... Read More
If you're always on a diet you probably spend half... Read More
Recently, I was reading about a diet plan where you... Read More
I'm sure you already know that weight loss and improved... Read More
You are going to be pleasantly surprised! Most people think... Read More
The story broke in the international press on October 4th,... Read More
Chances are if you've stepped foot in a gym or... Read More
Hot dang! If a few hundred other folks can peddle... Read More
Over the last twenty five years the most common questioned... Read More
Resistance training, also known as strength training, does not require... Read More
You've seen them a hundred times: "Before" and "After" pictures.... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..Green tea has been highly valued in Asia for centuries... Read More
Steady gains made in improvement in life expectancy may be... Read More
Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day... Read More
Many Americans include health improvement in their New Year's Resolutions.... Read More
Among the most popular forms of dieting is the South... Read More
Eating when under stress isn't just about filling an emotional... Read More
Supporters of the Atkins Diet claim that a low carbohydrate... Read More
1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.As soon as... Read More
When we hear all the success stories of the gastric... Read More
Getting into a weight loss program or any type of... Read More
Imagine this ... What if you could ?Increase the rate... Read More
Well we're at it again, trying to honor our promise... Read More
Many gastric bypass patients report melon to be one of... Read More
Yesterday, out of the blue, without any foreboding gossip or... Read More
Losing weight on hips and thighs has always been a... Read More
It has been 15 years since I was diagnosed with... Read More
What if by making a few small changes in your... Read More
In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime.... Read More
Weight loss is one of the biggest industries in the... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
We are bombarded with advertisements pushing delicious looking, fat filled,... Read More
As our country gains weight at an alarming rate, we... Read More
When you truly consider the weight-loss process, the battle waged... Read More
This is a perfect example of how on-line weight loss... Read More
Ah the ever present battle to lose those unwanted pounds.... Read More
Weight Loss |