Childhood Obesity

Health care providers are reporting that Americans are overweight and there is alarming concern about the obesity of our children. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that how much teens and tweens eat can be influenced by what their friends weigh. Time summarized the findings “Socializing with overweight people can change what we perceive as the norm; it raises our tolerance for obesity both in others and in ourselves. It’s also about letting your hair down. Past research has shown that adults tend to eat more around friends and family than they do with strangers. They shed their inhibitions about how it looks when they go back for thirds or order Alfredo sauce instead of the marinara.”

Obesity also puts children at risk for high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol levels. Today approximately 25 million or one in three children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. This could be the first generation that will live with more illnesses and die younger than their parents. Children’s diets have changed dramatically with the convenience of fast food and packaged foods. There should be a family oriented approach to living a healthy life style with regular exercise, a decrease in fatty foods, and appropriate amount of sleep for your child’s age.

There are several ways to motivate your children to be more active. One would be to limit television to two hours a day and take an evening walk or bike ride instead. You could encourage your children to take their pet for a walk; do yard work or other chores around the house. Parents can select toys that keep their children more active or organize a play group with their friends. You could also plan a family activity to swim, bowl, play volleyball, or visit a local YMCA. Helping your children find their strengths and encouraging them to develop them to their full potential will bring life long benefits to their physical and mental well-being.