7 WAYS FOR KIDS TO HAVE A SLIMMER SUMMER

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7 WAYS FOR KIDS TO HAVE A SLIMMER SUMMER

This might be the first generation of children who do not

outlive their parents, says Amy Bohn, M.D., a family physician

for the University of Michigan Health System. The reason?

Health problems related to childhood overweight and obesity.

" The number of overweight or obese children in the U.S. has

tripled since the 1960s to approximately 15 percent, and up to

70 or 80 percent of these children will continue to be obese as

adults, " says Bohn, assistant professor in the Department of

Family Medicine at the U-M Medical School.

" As a result, children are starting to develop what we've always

thought of as being more adult illnesses - type 2 diabetes, high

blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and asthma. "

Fortunately, parents can take action now to help prevent the

early onset of these diseases. And, Bohn says, summer is an

excellent time to make some healthy lifestyle changes that

will benefit kids and the entire family.

Bohn offers these tips to ensure that your

kids have a slimmer summer:

Limit " screen time. " " There is a positive correlation between

the amount of time that children spend in front of the TV,

computer, or video games and obesity, so it's important to

limit those types of activities to less than two hours a day, "

advises Bohn. By reducing time spent on sedentary activities,

parents free up more time for their children to play outside

and be active.

Make activities fun. Exercise shouldn't be a chore, especially

for children. With warm weather outside, kids cans do a variety

of activities that involve both fun and fitness. " Parents should

involve children in playful activities, as opposed to just doing

things like puzzles and games, " says Bohn. She recommends

jumping rope, swimming, skateboarding, and bike riding as

alternatives to inside play. Team sports also are great ways

to promote activity, so encourage your child to join a community

team such as softball, soccer or dance. Summer is a great time

to get in shape for fall tryouts at school, too.

Involve the whole family. Take turns choosing fun things to do

as a group, such as going on a family bike ride, visiting a zoo,

or even planting a garden. Kids are more likely to want to

exercise and to enjoy if they are doing it alongside mom and

dad. In addition, focusing on the family as a group helps

prevent overweight children from feeling embarrassed or singled

out. " As a parent, you don't want to be critical of your child

because of the concerns we see with childhood obesity and lower

self-esteem, " says Bohn. " It's important to discuss it in the

framework of the whole family being healthy and active. "

Stock up on healthy snacks. What you have in your kitchen

influences the food choices your children make, both now and

later in life. Avoid buying high-fat, salty or sugary snacks

like chips and cookies. Instead, try fruits and vegetables such

as apples, bananas and carrots, which are fun to munch on and

portable. Other good snacks include yogurt, peanut butter and

celery, and whole-grain crackers and cheese. Sugary soda pop

and fruit-flavored drinks are big contributors to obesity, so

provide healthier options like bottled water or milk. " You can

even involve your children in the grocery shopping, " says Bohn.

Allowing your children to choose healthy snacks that they enjoy

increases the likelihood that they will eat those snacks

instead of less healthy alternatives.

Make plans. Children are often left unsupervised in the summer,

which makes it harder to motivate them to be active and eat

properly. Bohn recommends making set plans and scheduling in

some fun activities. " Talk to your children before the day, as

far as things that you can plan together, and then talk to them

at the end of the day when you get home, as far as what they've

done that day. It takes time and planning, but if you have some

structure, it really helps, " she says.

Model good behavior. Children are more likely to make healthy

choices when their parents set a good example. Show them that

you enjoy eating healthy food, and they will be more willing to

give it a chance. Encourage young children to bike alongside you

as you jog, and invite older ones outside to play catch.

Even small things, like walking to the corner store instead of

driving, can encourage kids to get moving. The more active and

healthy you are as a parent, the more active and healthy your

child will want to be. " Parents being good role models can help

foster good habits in their children, which really helps the

problem of childhood obesity, " says Bohn.

Keep it up! " The habits that we develop over the summertime

will persist into the fall and winter months, particularly if

there's continuity, " says Bohn. " If parents help their children

to establish these healthy routines, then they most likely will

continue in the future. " Making health a priority is easy in the

summer, and if parents continue to make it a priority in the

fall and winter, children will develop healthy habits for life.

Online version:

http://diabeticgourmet.com/articles/583.shtml

You may also be interested in reading:

Diabetic Children and Diet

http://diabeticgourmet.com/articles/131.shtml

'All that I have seen teaches me to trust God for all I have not seen.'

~Sugar