Obesity Oblivion
Twenty-five percent of all pets are overweight. In Arkansas, one in four children is obese. Over 10% percent of preschool children between ages two and five in America are overweight. Research has also found lowered self-esteem in children as young as five who are overweight. Studies show that children with obesity in their preteens will have a 70% percent chance of being obese in their adult years.
There are 83 restaurants that feature the "golden arches" in the island of Manhattan alone, and on the average in large cities one every quarter mile. Fast food restaurants are everywhere, including hospitals, schools, and discount superstores. Advertisers spend billions of dollars on food ads contributing to obesity. Some of the leading risk factors of coronary heart disease include high blood fats, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar, and lack of exercise. These factors are caused by excessive caloric intake and lack of activity.
High blood fats are caused by the increase and over-consumption of saturated fat. Parents must limit their children’s diet to less than 25% fat and only 10% saturated fat. A poor diet and excessive weight gain causes obesity. Children must have regulated healthy diets to maintain a healthy weight. Parents can also help with overeating by resigning themselves and their children from the clean plate club. Let children fill their plates themselves and prohibiting them from eating snacks from bags; instead have them put snacks into a small plate or bowl. Excess calories can be eliminated by teaching children to have smaller portions and limit their second servings of meal helpings.
Type 2 Diabetes, once considered a disorder for overweight adults, is now a major factor in children’s medical problems. Cheap fat, refined carbohydrates and processed foods cause children to develop problems with their livers, pancreas, and digestive systems quite early. Some parents have reported elimination of their child’s undesirable behavior, Asperger’s syndrome, and ADHD with the removal of unhealthy foods. Last of all obesity has soared with the excessive availability of poor food choices in lunches and cafeterias in the country. Some school cafeteria selections gross over 1,000 calories for one meal. This is ridiculous considering that the average daily caloric intake for an elementary child should be at about 1800-2000.
Children are also more sedentary now than ever before. By the age of seventeen, a child has spent 38% more time in front of the television than in school. Instead of running on the playground, they play computer games and prefer to stay inside and watch television to doing activities outside. Children are not getting enough physical activity. Studies show that children need 30 to 60 minutes of activity most days of the week. Physical Education classes typically only allow children to be vigorously exercising three minutes a day. In 1969, 80% of all children played sports. Today only 20% of all children regularly participate in sports.
Parents can reverse the curse of inactivity by limiting television time, taking a family walk, and spending time playing at the local recreational center or park district. Parents should walk as much as possible and encourage their children to do so as well. A side benefit will result in improved communication time walking with other family members.
A successful parent must live a consistent lifestyle by eating healthy, limiting their visits to fast food restaurants, and exercising regularly. By doing that, you are helping children avoid the diseases and health problems of the present and preparing them for a healthy future.
Christina Lee Steele Chapan is an ACE certified personal trainer, who is beginning a new group called Fitness for Fun; which teaches children and teens to incorporate fitness and nutrition into their daily lives. In addition to attaining her ACE certification, she is also an elementary school teacher with a B.S. in Elementary Education, a minor in Biblical Studies from North Central University, and an M.A. in Curriculum and Development from Governors State University. She has been married for six years and is hoping to start a family in the future.
References
Baylor College of Medicine
www.kidsnutrition.com
Cole, Leslie, Don’t be Heavy-Handed in Dealing with Overweight Child, Oregon Live, May 11, 2004
Fahley, Thomas D. Fitness for Kids and Teens, Santa Barbara, CA International Sports and Sciences Association, 2003
Fahley, Thomas D. Youth Fitness Trainer, Santa Barbara, CA: International Sports and Sciences Association, 2003
Nature’s Path - www.naturespath.com
Overcoming Obesity in America: A Special Report from Time, Time Magazine., June 7, 2004
One Obesity Remedy: Get Out and Play
Supersize Me Movie Site
Welcome to Operation Fit Kids!