Teenage
and Childhood Obesity
Along
with the increase of obesity in adults, teenage and childhood
obesity is on the rise. Around 15.5 percent of adolescents
in the United States, aged 12 to 19 are obese.
But what’s
even more alarming, is that about 15.3 percent of children
ages 6 to 11 are also obese, which is unfortunately a growing
world-wide trend.
These
children are at risk of developing Type II Diabetes and high
blood pressure at an early age. They are also placing themselves
at increased risk for heart disease and other obesity related
diseases.
Their
weight also makes them the target of bullies and children
who insult and taunt them about their weight, which results
in low self-esteem and places them at risk of depression.
Today’s
children make up the digital generation. They’ve been
surrounded by computers their entire life and are not as physically
active as children of past generations. Instead of going outside
and playing, they tend to hang out indoors, watching TV and
playing computer and video games.
Along
with this lack of physical activity comes the convenience
of fast food. In most parts of the world there are now fast
food restaurants virtually around every corner, plus they
have easy access to snack foods and sweets that full of saturated
fats and sugars.
In addition
to this, studies have shown that obese parents are more likely
to have obese children. The reason for this is two-fold…
| 1.
|
Obese
parents are likely to pass down their poor habits to their
children; and |
| 2.
|
Genetics
can play a major role in obesity. |
It’s
important for parents to be role models to their children
and emphasize the importance of physical activity and healthy
eating. Parents can create healthy environments for their
children by participating in regular physical activities,
such as biking, swimming, jogging or walking together.
They should
also encourage their children to participate in sports, dance,
martial arts, etc, which will assist in allowing children
to develop a healthy appreciation for physical activity, as
well as enjoying exercising.
When it
comes to eating, parents need to implement diets rich in fruits,
vegetables, and whole-grains. They can make eating enjoyable
and healthy by preparing food together and eating together
as a family.
Way too
often we reward ourselves for a job well done with food. Start
looking for other options to reward your children for doing
a great job, such as a special shopping trip or a day with
just mom or dad.
Fast-foods
should be limited and reserved for special occasions only.
Of course
nutrition is of huge importance and we discuss this his very
important topic in detail in our article on Nutrition
and Dietary Basics
Apart
from this, below are some more great article and information
on teenage and childhood obesity that may be of assistance
to you...
|
