Fighting Childhood Obesity
Putting and End to Childhood Obesity
One of the saddest pages we must share on this website has to be this page. The tragic topic of childhood obesity is out of control here in the United States and the problem is continuing to escalade and grow worldwide. As of this writing, 1 out of 3 children and teens are overweight to obese. The definition of what constitutes obesity is controversial and constantly changing. What we are listing here is what the medical industry and science told us back in the early 1980s. The rule was any person over 25 lbs. overweight was entering into the low threshold of obesity.
Today, some 170 million children are overweight worldwide, while one in eight people in the world are estimated to suffer from chronic hunger. These facts are such a contrast from one another, and nearly impossible for most of us to wrap our heads around.
Rates of obesity for children in the U.S. have literally QUADRUPLED since 1980, a reality that has frightening implications for our future society. The question we must all ask is “how on earth did we get here?” Here are just a few answers:
- The Big food industry is creating addictive garbage they call “food” and getting people hooked, specifically targeting children. Additionally, the portions are so massive, kids are eating way too much of it at one time, which their bodies cannot metabolize what they are consuming.
- Poor food habits and choices at home and in school are a big problem. Not enough education about what good food actually is, accompanied by a huge lack of adult supervision, or monitoring what children are eating.
- Heredity factors play a big role in childhood obesity. Parents of overweight children are usually overweight themselves, which creates a major problem on a number of levels.
- Social-economic issues also contribute to childhood obesity. Parents that suffer from financial hardships often times suffer from a lack of dietary education and/or ability to feed their children properly.
- Psychological factors affect both the child and their parents. Many people turn to food for emotional comfort, which can be a recipe for disaster, especially in children.
- Inactivity is killing our children rapidly. They need to get off the couch and into sports programs or at least playing outdoors with other kids. A lack of physical movement promotes a myriad of health issues.
- Parents don’t cook for their children the same way our parents cooked for us. Prepackaged junky garbage disguised as “food” creates overweight families. If you want your family to lose weight and be healthy, you must cook or prepare real food for them.
Childhood obesity has immediate and long-term impacts on physical, social, and emotional health. Children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases that impact physical health, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, type 2 diabetes, and risk factors for heart disease.
Sadly, children with obesity are bullied and teased more often than their normal weight peers and are more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem.
In the long term, childhood obesity also is associated with having obesity as an adult, which is linked to serious conditions and diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and even several types of cancer.
We must educate our children on the importance of real food, proper diet, nutrition and the world we live in. If a child is not taught that potato chips and cookies and candies and junk food are bad for them at a young age, they are already in trouble. It is up to you, the adult, to take responsibility for helping your children get proper nutrition and get educated, as well.
You Have The Power to Change!
If you love your kids and you want them to be well and happy, start making the at home today. Here are some guidelines follow:
- If nature grows the food, it’s usually good for you. Prepare it properly, either raw, lightly sauteed, steamed, or baked. Avoid fried foods, heavily breaded foods, gooey heavy sauces, etc.
- Next, start by educating your family on what fruits and vegetables actually are, and start feeding them accordingly. This means beautiful feeding them raw, sautéed or steamed leafy greens, baked squashes, delicious colorful salads, etc.
- There are countless recipes for fantastic, healthy fruit and vegetable juices that kids LOVE, if given the opportunity! Invest in a juicer and a blender and begin making delicious juices and smoothies with all natural, organic ingredients. Leave the sugar out. Use fruit to sweeten the juice if necessary.
- Reduce portions. When the food is made properly, you and your family will get full faster and stay fuller longer, feeling more satisfied.
When fed real nutrition, you will see your children and family will blossom instantly, right before your eyes. If you choose to feed them meat and dairy, make sure it’s clean and lean. Nothing packaged.
Give yourself and your children the gift of good food and a good food education. Get proactive in their lives now. You’ll be glad you did.
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