Childhood Obesity Prevention Should Begin At Home!
childhood obesity, parenting by example, nutrition, healthy habits
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A few of you know that I've started training to become a children's fitness specialist and nutritionist. There's definitely a need for it - just look around. As a teacher I see an appalling number of kids whose weight issues begin at a very early age. I also see what they're putting into their bodies, how weight impacts their performance in school (and I'm not just talking about sports and physical education classes), and sad as this sounds, it also effects interaction with their peers. To their credit, some parents are aware of these issues and are trying their best to address the problems - some, but not ALL. If more parents stepped up, took a look at their own eating and health habits, their kids would be better off. Here's my advice to them, to all of us really.
As parents, we spend a lot of time talking to our kids about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and Internet safety, but obesity rarely comes up. Yet it's clearly one of the biggest concerns in the United States today and poses dangerous consequences to our children's physical and emotional health. Let's reverse this epidemic by creating a healthy home environment and regularly talking with our kids -- starting as young as two years of age -- about the importance of eating right and engaging in regular physical activity.
Health Strategies for Parents:
Set a shining example. Kids, especially the youngest ones, mimic their parents. Be a healthy role model at home and on the road.
Put the entire house on a "health program." Never single out one child struggling with a weight issue. Even super thin siblings benefit from healthy eating and regular exercise.
Make healthy eating fun. Involve your kids in meal planning, shopping, and cooking. When kids help pick out and prepare veggies for the stir-fry, or season turkey meat for tacos, they'll be more likely to branch out from mainstays like chicken nu... read entire entry
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on 7/17/2008
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