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!
one time home cleaning Highland Park ..With the number of people suffering from obesity rising so... Read More
So you're overweight, "fat"--to be honest--and you want to start... Read More
I was thinking about diets and such and it occurred... Read More
Ok... If you are reading this is because you do... Read More
People usually quit weightloss and exercise programs for one of... Read More
If I were asked, "what is the most difficult thing... Read More
Many people limit themselves to one soda a day especially... Read More
A little information if often a dangerous thing... and many... Read More
What the Diet Industry Does Not Want You To Know:... Read More
The South Beach Diet works, for most people. Its low... Read More
Do you have a big event coming up? Perhaps you... Read More
It can be intimidating to follow a weight loss plan,... Read More
Are you tired of getting the same old advice when... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
There are many diets, all of which boil down to... Read More
Choosing a weight loss program may be a daunting task.... Read More
Abdominal fat is now seen as a growing health hazard,... Read More
Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of... Read More
Obesity raises the risk of various types of cancer. And... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifty... Read More
You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More
It is very tempting to try that fad diet that... Read More
You gain weight when your calorie intake is more than... Read More
I've talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients... Read More
Is this even possible?Well hold on to your seat because... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..Welcome to lesson #2. First of all, I believe that... Read More
Your health is your responsibility. As a human being, you... Read More
It seems there are two schools of behavior patients follow... Read More
I am a Registered Dietitian who has spent over 10,000... Read More
The revolution is here. Weight Loss as we know it... Read More
The gastric bypass procedure isn't for everyone, but those who've... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
While it would be ideal to make all of our... Read More
Because the Internet allows so many millions of people to... Read More
Today obesity, diabetes, and heart disease run through us at... Read More
For the past 20 years, the American public has been... Read More
The difference between weight loss, and steady or weight gain,... Read More
Obesity, especially in children, is a matter of rapidly growing... Read More
Dieting presents many complications if you are not fully committed... Read More
Obesity raises the risk of various types of cancer. And... Read More
These days more and more people are getting intellectual instead... Read More
Everyone is looking for the secret to losing weight. Everyone... Read More
In the last 12 months or so, low carbohydrate diets... Read More
Today I stopped by my favorite coffee shop in Berkeley,... Read More
One of the worst things you can hear in life... Read More
As I explained in the first part of this article,... Read More
As much as many of us who are over-weight do... Read More
Put simply, your resting metabolic rate is the minimum number... Read More
The following are diet tips that can help you shape... Read More
Most people are unsure about how to begin a fat... Read More
Weight Loss |