subject: Why Are Our Children Overweight? [print this page] Being an overweight child has many negative connotations. Children can be very cruel without totally understanding that they are hurting someone's feelings. An obese child lacks self-esteem and social acceptance. But why has the number of overweight children doubled in the last twenty years?
One thing to remember is that not all issues with weight are due to being lazy or not eating properly. There are genetic disorders and diseases that, unfortunately, will cause children to be overweight. If a parent has a weight problem so might the child. Rarely, an endocrine disorder may be the culprit. A good pediatrician will notice the abnormal weight gain and order tests to determine if a treatment program is required.
There are studies that show that a child has anywhere from a 30% to a 75% chance of having problems with their weight if one or both of their parents are overweight. This may be inherited or it may be environmental. Environmental refers to learning eating and exercising habits from your family and peers. For example, if a child sees a parent eating bags of chips and drinking soda they will likely do the same. On the other hand, if the parent prepares healthy meals including servings of fruits and vegetables, they will share this nutritious meal with their children.
A large part of today's problem with obese children is due to the nature of their lifestyle and that of the parents. More so than ever before both parents are being forced to work outside the home. Mom doesn't stay home all day planning lunches and dinners anymore. Fast food is what it says it is, fast. There is homework, extra-curricular activities, bath, reading time and finally bedtime. Where is there time to prepare a roast chicken with all the healthy fixings?
The grocery store shelves are packed with prepackaged, easy to prepare foods and meals. Ads on TV blast our minds with subliminal messaging. "If you are a good parent you will feed your family ...." Next time you do groceries pick a few of your favorite items and check the ingredients. Better still, check the ingredients in your children's foods. Ingredients are listed in the order of how much is included in the final product. If you see sugar, glucose, molasses or any other kind of sweetener ranking high that food is not healthy. If you were more aware of what your children were eating would you shop a little differently?
If you have had a bad day at work and your job is to come home and get dinner on the table do you want the kids underfoot or arguing with each other? You send them into the family room to watch TV. Or they pick up their DS or plug in the Wii. What do kids see parents doing when they watch TV? They snack as they sit idle on the couch. Kids no longer know how to use their imaginations and play outside together. Inside, with a screen of some sort in front of them, they munch on chips and a Coke.
In order to start shaping a generation of healthier kids we need to show them how. If parents eat healthy and exercise a couple of times a week the children will likely follow. There will be no argument that goes something like this:"Why should I when you don't?" Be an example for your kids. Prepare nutritional snacks and meals, join a gym or a recreational sports team, be active and soon your kids will be looking and feeling so much better.
by: Brenda Simard
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