Home
>
Weight Loss
>
The Culprit of Obesity in Children - Inactivity

The Culprit of Obesity in Children - Inactivity

It was bad enough hearing almost daily that obesity in adults is a growing problem, now our children are the focal point. Yes, moms and dads, the research is in. In a study conducted by Weight Watchers International Inc., and the American Health Foundation, 25% of American children are now officially overweight, and the youngest are especially at risk. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) found that 14% of six to 11 year olds weighed more than they should, as did 12% of 12-17 year olds. In addition, another ADA study suggests the half of obese adolescents will become fat adults.

This is not a passing phase, obesity in children is increasing daily and with the increase comes a slew of health issues ? the prevalent ones being diabetes and breathing difficulties.

Karen Miller-Kovach, R.D., chief scientist for Weight Watchers states "lack of exercise accounts for more than 50% of the problem, just 30% of the problem is due to overeating or choosing the wrong types of foods." Instead, experts point to the same things I have been saying for the past 10 years, cuts in school physical education programs, less time spent outdoors and more time playing video games or sitting in front of the computer or television. Not riding bikes around the neighborhood due to safety issues.

As I mention in Keep Kids Fit, with the cuts in physical education, after school programs and just the general lack of activity by our children you need to be creative about getting your family more active. One way is get the whole family out and about is to take walks after dinner, and if you have a pet, bring him/her along, because sad to say along with obesity in humans, so also go our "furkids". Have your children do chores, like vacuum, mow the lawn, rake leaves, pick up their room. Have a dance night. Let the kids pick the music (I know you don't like their music, but think of it this way, our parents didn't like ours either). Play more physical games, like charades, twister, kick ball, soft ball. I love bowling, have a bowling night with the family or get your children interested in a league. Not only will they be more active, they will make some new friends in the process and learn how to become part of a team effort!

Also, don't forget, while activity is important so is healthy eating. I know the study said activity was important, but you still have to eat healthy. Fast foods once in a while is one thing, however, making them a habit can be disastrous. Drop the sugar filled fruit juices, and give them water or caffeine free, diet soda (for older children). Have them take their daily vitamin along with a glass of OJ. One thing too many parents tend to do is to fill their kids up with fruit juices that are way too high in sugar. Brew your own ice tea and limit the sugar (use a sugar substitute, like Splenda). Same thing with lemonade, make your own. Get them used to water, it is good for them and fills them up in the process. "The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting 100% fruit juice to 4 to 6 ounces a day for 1 to 6 year olds and to 7 to 12 ounces a day for those ages 7 to 18.

A study reported in the January 2005 issue of Prevention, by Barry M. Popkin, PhD., a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina found "Liquid sugar from soda, juice and fruit drinks is the biggest source of sugar consumption". His study of more than 73,000 children and adults found that between ages 2 and 18, kids drink 135% more calories in sweetened beverages than you probably did as a child."

Most important is that you don't make your children uncomfortable. Don't talk in terms of weight, but in terms of a healthy lifestyle and having more energy. Realize it is going to take time for your children and family to adjust to the new healthy lifestyle you want to put in place. Foremost, if you want to be a good role model, practice what you preach!

Introducing Keep Kids Fit: A How To Guide For Setting Up And Running Your Own Business In One Year Or Less! Solutions for parents who want healthy children in body and mind! Our motto, "Eat Healthy, Live Healthy, Help Keep Kids Fit" Keep Kids Fit asks the question: Do You Want To Help Foster A Healthy Lifestyle For Your Child! If you answered yes, then visit our web blog at: http://hbsblogs.typepad.com/keepkidsfit/ and visit our website today at: http://hbsblogs.typepad.com/keepkidsfit/

high-end home cleaning Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

Revolutionary retinal implant restores central vision in 80% of patients with advanced macular degeneration, offering hope where treatments once only slowed blindness.

Learn how to use passkeys on Windows and Mac computers without cameras or fingerprint readers. Discover secure authentication methods that replace passwords.

Tesla's FSD v14.1.2 update reintroduces Mad Max mode, enabling higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than the standard Hurry profile setting.

A phishing email scam targeting American Express customers shows how cybercriminals use fake urgent messages to steal personal and financial information.

Facebook's new Meta AI feature analyzes your camera roll photos to create polished collages automatically, but requires cloud processing and raises privacy concerns.

A New Jersey teenager filed a major lawsuit against AI/Robotics Venture Strategy 3 Ltd. over ClothOff, an AI tool that created fake nude images from her social media photos.

Microsoft reports Storm-2657 cybercriminals sent phishing emails to 6,000 addresses at 25 universities to steal payroll credentials and redirect funds.

Astronomers have discovered asteroid 2025 SC79, a skyscraper-sized space rock orbiting the sun in just 128 days. the second-fastest known.

The Fox News AI Newsletter delivers the latest developments form the world of artificial intelligence, including the technology's challenges and opportunities.

A cyberattack on SimonMed Imaging exposed personal information of 1.2 million patients, including medical records, financial details and identity papers.

Spotify's managed accounts for kids under 13 now available in at least seven countries, allowing parents to filter and block explicit content and songs.

Friendly text conversations about BBQs and social events can lead to WEEX gold trading scams that target older adults with fake investment opportunities.

California company Skyeports creates self-healing glass spheres from Moon regolith that generate solar power and support plant growth for sustainable lunar living.

Cleafy researchers discover fake VPN streaming app Mobdro Pro that installs Klopatra banking Trojan, giving attackers full control over Android devices.

Police departments across the U.S. and Canada are adopting virtual reality training to better prepare officers for high-pressure, real-world situations.

House Bill 469 would prevent AI systems from owning property, serving as executives, or gaining legal personhood in Ohio under Representative Thaddeus Claggett's proposal.

Public voter records expose retirees' personal details to election scammers who create targeted cons using names, addresses, and voting history data.

Instead of fearing what comes next with artificial intelligence, think outside the box. Here are high-earning AI jobs that don't require a computer science degree.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says polite words like "please" and "thank you" cost millions annually, while direct prompts may improve ChatGPT accuracy by several points.

Chattee Chat and GiMe Chat exposed intimate conversations and photos, revealing users spent up to $18,000 on AI companions before the breach.

New Instagram parental controls allow families to manage teen screen time and content limits through the Family Center with stricter safety settings.

Third-party security breach at Discord exposes sensitive user information including government IDs, highlighting cybersecurity risks from external service providers.

Survey of 1,000 students shows teens using AI for personal relationships while two-thirds of parents remain unaware of their children's AI usage.

Cybersecurity experts warn about a ShadowLeak vulnerability that weaponized ChatGPT's Deep Research agent to steal personal data from Gmail accounts through hidden commands.

Tesla's Full Self-Driving system faces federal investigation following 58 reports of crashes, with six vehicles running red lights before colliding with other cars.

The Culprit of Obesity in Children - Inactivity

Weight Loss