|
Childhood Obesity on the Rise
by Michael Stefano
Americans are always on diets these days, and despite this we're getting fatter. As a society, we've gotten 50 percent heavier in the last 10 years. This alarming trend toward being overweight has spilled over to our youth, with an epidemic increase in childhood obesity. Learn more about childhood obesity and teaching kids to eat healthier here!
Overweight kids
Today, one in five children are considered overweight, with
obesity being the number one health problem among America's kids. A study reported in the Dec. 12, 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concludes, "Childhood overweight continues to increase rapidly in the United States." Researchers recommend culturally competent treatment strategies and policy interventions as a way to increase physical activity and encourage healthy eating patterns in today's youth.
Overweight kids who mature into obese adults are at greater risk
for early development of cardiovascular disease, high blood
pressure, stroke and type 2 diabetes, as well as certain types of cancers. Robert Berkowitz, MD, an associate professor at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, believes successful
weight loss requires a family commitment, with the child and
parent addressing lifestyle modification, nutrition and physical
activity. The doctor recommends not overloading the child's plate
at meal time. Three to four ounces of lean meat, a small baked
potato and salad or vegetables is an appropriate choice.
The Traffic Light Diet
Teaching children a successful method of making appropriate
food choices is made easier with the Traffic Light Diet. Children as young as eight can learn the caloric worth of food by
assigning traffic light colors to the amount of caution they should take when filling their plates.
Red Light
Eat less of these high calorie food such as ice cream and French
fries
Yellow Light
Use caution with these moderate calorie, healthier foods such as chicken and potatoes.
Green Light
Eat more of these low calorie, low fat and fiber foods such as
carrots, lettuce.
Berkowitz also recommends not using food as a reward or
punishment, as well as shifting the child's focus from sedentary activities like TV and video games, to sports like basketball or bicycle riding.
Tell someone about this article - just click below to share this page with a
friend!
|
|
Children are overweight for a variety of reasons including
genetic factors, lack of physical activity (the average child
watches 24 hours of television a week) or unhealthy eating
patterns. In rare instances a medical problem such as endocrine disease, will be the culprit. First make sure your child really is overweight. For borderline cases, pinpointing whether a child is overweight or not can be tricky. As your first step, consult with
your pediatrician.
10 steps you can take
1. Be supportive of your child
2. Focus on family, not an individual
3. Increase family physical activity
4. Be a role model, set an example
5. Teach your children healthy eating habits
6. Encourage slow eating
7. Plan snacks in advance
8. Involve kids in shopping and preparing meals
9. Don't use food to reward or punish
10. If unsure what to do, consult with a certified dietician
Links, information and more for you
 Kids and Exercise
Family Fitness
Fitness: A Family Affair
Directory of ages articles
Directory of all articles
About the author: Michael Stefano is a New York City firefighter and author of
The Firefighter's Workout Book, The 30 Minute-a-day Train-for-life Program for Men and Women. Special Offer: Lose weight and get in shape with the
FREE Train For Life Newsletter. Subscribe at www.firefightersworkout.com.
|
Send this to a friend
