Battling Obesity

There’s considerable hype in the news about the incidence of childhood obesity and the risks. As usual, scare stories abound with calls for government intervention and/or large-scale social changes. But apart from the over-the-top reactions, there are some basic facts that remain.

With the increase in the availability and lower cost of food in Western countries, all but the poorest individuals are at no risk of starving. At the same time, convenience foods, fast food establishments and snacks everywhere have made it all the more likely that many will consume too many calories.

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Individuals under 20 are naturally more flexible, have higher metabolic rates and more energy than those older. But they, too, need to exercise (in appropriate ways) to avoid injury and build strength and endurance, avoid obesity and stay fit.

Particularly today, when there are so many electronic alternatives, young people may exercise less than they should. It’s during the formative years that individuals lay the groundwork for what later become healthy or poor habits.

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By Eliz Greene

More and more schools are addressing the problem of childhood obesity with increased activity and better food choices, but here’s the problem. What happens when kids leave the structure of school for the summer?

They gain weight according to a recent study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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by: Ray Kelly

Shockingly, it is estimated that 22 million of the world’s children under 5 are overweight or obese and approximately one in four American children are overweight. The problem this presents is that these children are more susceptible to pediatric hypertension, type II diabetes, greater risk of heart disease, the extra burden of weight on joints, not to mention, the social effects with peers. The medical community has already indicated a surge in childhood diabetes and of the children diagnosed with Type II diabetes, 85% are obese.

Childhood obesity can be caused by a combination of many factors, but certainly two of the biggest contributors are lack of exercise and poor dietary habits.

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By Beverly Terhune

To help your children cultivate a healthy body and a good self-image, always teach by example. Avoid placing so much emphasis on their weight that they begin to equate how much they weigh with how much they are loved. Their environment can be changed so they can move more and eat well. Experts offer these additional tips:

1. Maintain Proper Portion Size.

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