Startling Facts About Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity may be the most urgent health problem in America today. Nearly one third of the children in America are overweight or obese or at risk of becoming overweight or obese and some estimates are that number will increase to one half by 2010. Overweight people are at greater risk for diabetes and heart disease and the current generation is the first generation ever that is not expected to exceed it's parents life span.
These startling facts should rouse Americans to action, but the count keeps rising. Why? It could be that good healthy food is out of the reach of a large portion of Americans who earn too much to qualify for assistance, but whose food budget only allows for inexpensive, high calorie, low nutrition foods. But a bigger problem is the lack of knowledge of just what foods are healthy, and how to prepare them, and the lack of exercise. We spend far too many hours watching TV and playing video games and too few hours getting out and just moving!
These startling facts should rouse Americans to action, but the count keeps rising. Why? It could be that good healthy food is out of the reach of a large portion of Americans who earn too much to qualify for assistance, but whose food budget only allows for inexpensive, high calorie, low nutrition foods. But a bigger problem is the lack of knowledge of just what foods are healthy, and how to prepare them, and the lack of exercise. We spend far too many hours watching TV and playing video games and too few hours getting out and just moving!
What is Childhood Obesity
. . .and why is it of such great concern
What is childhood obesity and why is it of such concern?"Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start kids on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
One of the best strategies to combat excess weight in your child is to improve the diet and exercise levels of your entire family. This helps protect the health of your child now and in the future." Quote from Mayo Clinic staff.
Childhood obesity is also troubling because these obese children usually have very low self-esteem which can lead to even more physical as well as emotional problems
Consequences of Childhood Obesity
* Childhood obesity causes an elevated cholesterol count which can lead to stroke and/or heart disease
* Childhood obesity can cause liver disease due to insulin resistance.
* Childhood obesity can lead to diabetes
* Childhood obesity can lower life expectancy
Set New Priorities
"But I don't have time to exercise, my child doesn't have time to exercise, my child is a picky eater, I don't have time to cook from scratch and offer good healthy meals", are excuses often given for not changing lifestyles.
The truth is, habits are hard to break. Children do what they see others do. If you drink half dozen sodas a day, chances are your child does too. If you skip breakfast, so does your child.
Bottom line. . .change your priorities! The average American adult watches 19 hours of TV every week. Most children play video games. Give up some of those TV and video game hours to just get outside and move. Toss a ball around in the back yard, go for a brisk walk as a family, find things to do that get you moving and get your cardio and pulmonary rates up. You don't have to join a gym to get exercise.-
Taste is acquired and you may have better luck convincing your child to give up unhealthy snacks and eat a wider variety of foods if you gradually introduce new foods and insist that they at least taste them. If your family drinks a large quantity of sodas, insist that they (and you) gradually reduce the number of sodas and substitute them for healthy drinks. NOTE: Energy drinks are NOT healthy. One can typically contains as much caffeine as 14 cans of soda or seven cups of coffee, not to mention all the other "junk" in them.
Don't skip breakfast. A healthy breakfast not only revs your metabolism, but recent studies show another reason it can help you loose weight. You're less likely to have those cravings for that Crispy Cream Doughnut or other sugary snack mid morning if you eat a healthy breakfast.
The truth is, habits are hard to break. Children do what they see others do. If you drink half dozen sodas a day, chances are your child does too. If you skip breakfast, so does your child.
Bottom line. . .change your priorities! The average American adult watches 19 hours of TV every week. Most children play video games. Give up some of those TV and video game hours to just get outside and move. Toss a ball around in the back yard, go for a brisk walk as a family, find things to do that get you moving and get your cardio and pulmonary rates up. You don't have to join a gym to get exercise.-
Taste is acquired and you may have better luck convincing your child to give up unhealthy snacks and eat a wider variety of foods if you gradually introduce new foods and insist that they at least taste them. If your family drinks a large quantity of sodas, insist that they (and you) gradually reduce the number of sodas and substitute them for healthy drinks. NOTE: Energy drinks are NOT healthy. One can typically contains as much caffeine as 14 cans of soda or seven cups of coffee, not to mention all the other "junk" in them.
Don't skip breakfast. A healthy breakfast not only revs your metabolism, but recent studies show another reason it can help you loose weight. You're less likely to have those cravings for that Crispy Cream Doughnut or other sugary snack mid morning if you eat a healthy breakfast.
Childhood Obesity Solution
Brian Grasso has teamed up with dietitians, fitness coaches, and psycholigists to bring you an easy to understand, easy to implement plan to change your lifestyle and overcome childhood obesity.
A plan that won't have your children running kicking and screaming when you mention it.
A plan that will work immediately and last forever.
A plan that will get your whole family involved.
A plan that won't have your children running kicking and screaming when you mention it.
A plan that will work immediately and last forever.
A plan that will get your whole family involved.
- He presents a simple "eat this not that" solution to nutrition.
- A ready to use exercise plan. You don't have to go to the gym or run 5 miles a day, just move!
- Easy to understand and use 5 golden rules to exercise cheat sheet.
- Easy to understand and use 5 golden rules to nutrition cheat sheet
What Are You Waiting For?
Now's the time to solve that problem of childhood obesity and start your whole family on the road to a healthier, happier lifestyle!
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Visit my blog for information on herbs and their use.
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Loosing weight the healthy way can improve all areas of your life.
- Choose a Healthy Weight Loss Program
- How to change your life style to loose the weight permanently.
- Enrich Your Life
- Healthy foods boost your brain power and enrich your life.
- Eating Disorder Treatment
- Don't let fad diets and low self esteem lead you into the trap of eating disorders.
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Hello. My name is Jennie Hennesay AKA SilverMist AKA The Bead Doodler.
I'm interested in any kind of alternative healing and natural living.
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