If you have recently found yourself fretting over your child's waistline, you are not alone. The youth of today are fatter than ever before, and parents are starting to panic. Why are our kids so big, and what should we do about it?
Childhood obesity has been described as an epidemic. It puts our children's health at risk, making them more susceptible to problems involving their cardiovascular systems, endocrine systems, and even their mental health. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression, and low self-esteem are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems looming over the heads of our overweight children.
It is ironic that both the problem and the solution to this heavy problem boil down to one simple equation. Energy In vs. Energy Out. When more energy is consumed than is utilized, the result is fat storage. In short, our kids eat too much and do too little.
Energy In
The Problem: Parents today are busier than ever before, navigating through hectic schedules with convenient fast food restaurants lurking on every corner. Our kids are eating more fried, processed, and sugary foods than we did as children due mainly to the convenience factor. These foods are laden with excessive calories that result in weight gain.
The Solution: Take time to evaluate your children's diet. Do they eat three balanced meals a day? Do they eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day? Are they limited in their servings of fried, processed, and sugary foods? Avoid buying sugar-filled snacks while grocery shopping, fill your cart with fresh, healthy snacks instead. Make time to plan family meals so that you don't find yourself in another drive thru.
Energy Out
The Problem: Computers, video games, and satellite T.V. are our children's latest and greatest toys. Who has time to play outside when you are about to beat the hardest level, or your favorite show is about to start? Our kids participate in less physical activity and are more sedentary than any generation before.
The Solution: Limit the time your children spend on sedentary activities, such as T.V and video games. Sign your kids up on a local sports team so that they can run and be active with other kids. Take the whole family to the park on a weekend instead of gathering in front of the T.V.
As a parent, it is your unique responsibility to teach your children the healthy habits that lead to good health. Children who are obese have a greater chance of remaining obese into adulthood, thus greatly increasing the likelihood of serious health problems. Talk to your children about their eating habits, and activity levels, informing them of good choices versus bad choices. Make it a family effort to start eating healthier and increase physical activities, and you will be pleasantly surprised with the results!
Diana Keuilian, author, ACE certified Personal Trainer, and co-founder of HitechTrainer.com offers online personal training and nutrition programs that fit your budget and schedule. Whether your goal is to lose weight, firm and tone, or to build muscle, HitechTrainer.com will build a custom designed program just for you.
Visit: http://www.hitechtrainer.com/ and begin meeting your fitness goals today!
As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
It is common for new WLS patients to ask, "How... Read More
Its crowded..really crowded..every other site offers Weight Loss Programs and... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
Fat burning exercise is not merely one that will burn... Read More
Here are 7 simple habits that can help anyone enjoy... Read More
Low Carb, Low Fat, More protein, Eat all the fat... Read More
If anyone knows anything about fitness, it's that a low... Read More
Everyone who has ever been on a diet has hit... Read More
You may not like what I have to say, even... Read More
I am sure that when I mention setting objectives for... Read More
How's this for a diet: Take in fewer calories than... Read More
You step on the scale and groan at the number... Read More
My name is Greg Ryan and I am a high... Read More
These days, Jennifer Secrist has little interest in idle activities.... Read More
What do I mean by that?Well, carrots are good for... Read More
If your low carb diet is going nowhere, maybe its... Read More
Diet tips for losing weight abound. Some are good, some... Read More
Obesity and overweight, weight reduction and weight management therapies, miracle... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
If You are sick of losing the same weight over... Read More
My responsibility as a high profile fitness expert lies not... Read More
Recently, I won a family cruise on the Regis and... Read More
My last article, Make Diets Work, concluded that dieting the... Read More
The latest trend in the area of weight loss is... Read More
You've decided it's time to lose some weight. A lot... Read More
Zero Calorie Diet Sodas: Good Or Bad For Weight Loss?Calorie-free... Read More
It's agreed that if you raise the amount of calories... Read More
How was it for you? Did you get through the... Read More
Is Zone Diet a Fad?How do you recognize a fad... Read More
You won't believe what happened to me today!I was getting... Read More
It seems like everywhere you turn, there is someone trying... Read More
Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More
What is cellulite? Ask a doctor and he will probably... Read More
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every... Read More
Cellulite is a condition for which cures are commonly sought.... Read More
I did it without starving myself or taking pills. How... Read More
Abdominal liposuction refers to liposuction, or lipoplasty, that is performed... Read More
Much has been written about obesity and globesity. Obesity is... Read More
It is common for new WLS patients to ask, "How... Read More
Most people are unsure about how to begin a fat... Read More
The Atkins diet Plan breakfast can usually composed of eggs... Read More
Are you committed to losing weight and keeping it off?... Read More
I recently received the following email:Q. Five weeks ago, I... Read More
I'm sure you have heard it before, but one of... Read More
Low carb beer and lite beer are two different animals.... Read More
Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of... Read More
I have had some e-mails come in and everyone is... Read More
How do we know what we know? Often, our knowledge... Read More
Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More
I am considering Gastric bypass surgery because I am overweight,... Read More
What the Diet Industry Does Not Want You To Know:... Read More
How would you like Julia Roberts to coach you on... Read More
Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat... Read More
(Ailsa's Apple Crumble Diet)I'm Scottish, so it's not a big... Read More
The South Beach Diet was not created by your typical... Read More
There's a dirty little secret in the diet industry. The... Read More
Q: "I'm wondering if you can help me. I'm not... Read More
No One I Know Looks Like a Bathing Beauty, so... Read More
Today, Ephedra is an herb of controversy. It contains ephedrine,... Read More
Weight Loss ? Basic Lessons for Sustained SuccessWeight loss is... Read More
The loss of fat comes from fat cells all over... Read More
With the popularity of low carb diets such as Atkins,... Read More
NLP Setting an Anchor Process to Get Back Motivation for... Read More
Ready for a hardcore diet to get lean in a... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
Weight Loss |