Childhood Obesity—The Modern Health Dilemma

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Article Title: Childhood Obesity—The Modern Health Dilemma

Author: Hall

Word Count: 728

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You see it on the playgrounds, at roller rinks, at swimming

pools, and in classrooms. Obesity is a modern health dilemma

for today’s children, who are struggling with weight as never

before. It is a difficult problem to combat, given the fact

that you want to make sure that your children are receiving

sufficient amounts of nutrients in their diets. While some

children may outgrow obesity, others carry it with them into

their adult lives. Obesity in children can result in feelings

of fatigue, worthlessness, and hopelessness. It can also place

them at greater risk for diabetes and heart disease.

Just how widespread is the problem? The National Institutes of

Health has determined that, over the last thirty years, the

number of young people with weight problems has increased two

fold. Interestingly enough, the problem is affecting children

of all ages as well as children from all ethnic groups.

Children who are overweight may not develop socially as fast as

their peers. They can become loners, finding it difficult to

make friends. They may think that their weight is beyond their

control and they may not know what to do in order to attempt to

prevent weight gain. In essence, obese children can become our

lost generation.

The parents of these children may not realize how detrimental

obesity is to their children’s emotional health. They may

consider the obesity just a passing phase and they may not

understand the psychological devastation that obesity can

cause. They may even dismiss the concerns of their children,

hoping that the problem will simply go away.

The causes of childhood obesity can be complex. However, there

do appear to be a few identifiable triggers. For instance, many

families now eat on the run because of their many commitments.

Parents may not think they have time to prepare nutritious

meals for their children, so they rely on fast food and sugary

snacks to fill in the gaps. As a result, children end up eating

a diet that’s rich in fat and sugar but which offers little in

the way of nutritional value. According to the American Obesity

Association, one third of parents believe their children’s

dietary habits are worse than theirs were during their own

childhoods.

Another key problem is inactivity. Children watch more than a

full day’s worth of television each week. That’s in addition to

the hours they devote to their computers. As a result, they’re

not playing outside as much as children of generations past.

Also, many children may feel as if they cannot participate in

sports because of their weight. Feeling defeated before they

even start, they pass up opportunities to engage in physical

activities.

It has been shown that children tend to be heavily influenced

by advertising. Unfortunately, many commercials tout foods that

can be best classified as unhealthy. Children crave what they

see on TV and in movie theaters and they may not realize what

these foods will do to their bodies.

Luckily, childhood obesity can be successfully conquered. Here

are a few tips to help your child overcome a weight problem:

• Encourage your child to take part in sports or dance. If your

son or daughter is self-conscious about being a part of a team,

exercise with him or her. Take out a ball and shoot a few hoops

or turn on the stereo and begin to dance. You may be surprised

that, with just a little encouragement, your child will get up

and start moving.

• Consider limiting TV time. Research clearly shows that TV

time is unproductive time for children and teens. If your

children spend less time watching TV, they may spend more time

exercising.

• Ban junk food from your home. With a little push, children

will become accustomed to eating healthy snacks such as fruit

and vegetables.

• Check with your child’s pediatrician to see if he or she can

recommend some specific weight control strategies.

Childhood obesity is a problem, but it is not insurmountable.

The greater the interest you show in your child’s diet and

exercise regimen, the more influence you will have over your

child. In time, your child can learn the strategies necessary

for a healthy life.

About The Author: Steve Hall is the owner of

http://www.your-official-guide.com, your one-stop location for

getting the information you are looking for on a wide ranging

and ever-growing list of subjects.

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