| Though you might believe premature weight gain is | | | | food restaurants, and don't buy them junk. If your |
| hereditary, it is not the factor in the cause. Although | | | | kids are not too fond of having plenty of fruits and |
| genes do have an effect on weight-related chemical | | | | vegetables in their diet then slowly introduce it in |
| processes in children, they cannot account for the | | | | their meals; cook with vegetables and offer fruits as |
| sudden upsurge in childhood obesity, or the rise in | | | | snacks. If your child seems to become stressed for |
| teenage obesity. The real problem are the | | | | some reason or has low self-esteem then as a |
| parents...And though there's a lot of junk foods that | | | | parent you must address the issue and help your |
| are being promoted for kids that's in every super | | | | child out as soon and as much as possible, because |
| market, it is the parents choice of what goes in to | | | | anxiety is one of the major factors in premature |
| their fridge. It also involves the parents habits of | | | | weight gain. take your children out as often as |
| poor nutrition which revolves around the kids. I am | | | | possible to parks and play grounds or even the gym. |
| not saying that parents are the cause of childhood | | | | Encourage your child/teen to practice sports and |
| obesity, but parents do nothing to aggress the cause. | | | | take him or her with friends to play. Buy or adopt a |
| Every parent is responsible for their kids, and | | | | dog for them to encourage more walks out side |
| remember, kids will be kids and they will act like kids | | | | instead of being a couch potato. These are all just |
| because they are kids. That's why it should not be | | | | simple things that parents can do to keep their kids |
| on the child's terms that he eats and does as he | | | | and teens healthy and avoid the over weight |
| likes...its the parents urgent job to make sure that | | | | epidemic. |
| their kids are getting the right diet, exercise and the | | | | How To Do |
| right attention too. without right supervision of the | | | | If you truly want to prevent, manage or even |
| parents the children and teens will eat what they | | | | reverse your child's weight issues then you must |
| want and then they will become what they eat! | | | | take charge of your child's habits by slowly working |
| Causes of Childhood Obesity | | | | with them. First, make a list of three categories of |
| - Lack of Exercise | | | | what must change. Your first category should be |
| - Poor Diet | | | | "what must be abolished" which basically means what |
| - Technology Addiction | | | | are those things that my child is doing that is |
| - Lack of Sleep | | | | disrupting his or her weight and health. Think of the |
| - Excessive Snacking | | | | food they eat; what foods are debilitating to my |
| - Eating Fast Foods Too Often | | | | child's weight. Write down all the soft drinks, the |
| - Eating Junk Foods Too Often | | | | snacks, fried and greasy foods, fast foods, junk |
| - Child Abuse (physically punishing is not how you | | | | foods, sugar-rich foods and name each item |
| teach kids, this dramatically changes their eating | | | | specifically. Also include sitting too long on video |
| habits) | | | | games, t.v., computers, and just keep naming all the |
| - Psychological Troubles | | | | possible bad habits that are contributing to their |
| - Stressful Life Events or Changes (separations, | | | | weight gain. |
| divorce, moves, death's, abuse) | | | | Now we all know that kids and teens are attached |
| - Sedentary Lifestyle (laziness, being strained for long | | | | to certain things that if you take away from them it |
| periods in one spot, accustomed to sitting and | | | | will leave them cheerless and bitter, so your second |
| resting) | | | | category in the list is going to be "acceptable |
| - Depression or/and Anxiety | | | | limitations" which will be those things that you know |
| Now Read the Outcome of Childhood Obesity | | | | is precious in their lives but in the same time it also |
| Now lets look at some of the few major risks of | | | | contributes to an unhealthy lifestyle. Do this by |
| childhood obesity. Researchers have found that over | | | | looking at the first list that you made and rewrite |
| weight kids and teens are at a rapid risk of | | | | those things that you cannot take away totally but |
| developing some of the following: | | | | must put a limit on, check them out of your first list |
| - Arterial Hypertension | | | | as you rewrite them in your second list of |
| - Diabetes | | | | "acceptable limitations", such as watching t.v., playing |
| - Sleep Apnea | | | | video games, and whatever else that turns your child |
| - Heart and breathing problems | | | | or teen into a coach potato. Now you have two lists, |
| - Arthritis | | | | the first one is all the things that must be deleted |
| - Gallbladder problems | | | | completely out of your kids lifestyle, and the second |
| - Spinal Damage | | | | is all the things that you know you can't take away |
| - Some cancers (especially colon cancer) | | | | completely but must put a limit on. |
| - Premature Death (and yes, this one is happening a | | | | Your third and final list will be "addition" which will be |
| lot with obese children and the number of deaths are | | | | the things you will start implementing on to your child |
| increasing each year) | | | | or teens lifestyle, such as more fruits and vegetables, |
| These are just some of the major problems that | | | | exercise, chores, going out for walks, spending more |
| even kids are developing from premature weight gain. | | | | quality family time, etc. Do not write things you |
| Many children and teens are already suffering from | | | | cannot afford, only write those things that you can |
| some of these diseases due to childhood obesity. | | | | start implementing on your child immediately to |
| However, few realize that the increase in childhood | | | | create a better lifestyle for the them. Now start |
| obesity is even being observed among preschool | | | | making your lists. |
| children as young as 3 years of age. Researchers | | | | Once you have organized your list you must not try |
| have also found middle-aged arteries in children as | | | | to force anything on your child but in the same time |
| young as 12. So don't be fooled by how safe your | | | | do not let them be free in a sedentary way. You |
| kids may be because of their young age. | | | | must first talk it over with your child or teen and |
| What To Do | | | | teach them the harms of a bad lifestyle which |
| Parents please watch your kids and teens actions | | | | contributes to childhood obesity. Tell them of the |
| and habits. Do not let them become coach potatoes | | | | new changes and why there will be these changes. |
| that watch TV and play video games for hours of | | | | Try not to give them options to whether or not |
| the day. Do not give them food as reward, and limit | | | | they want to change their lifestyle, but you must |
| their consumption of soda and high fat and sugar-rich | | | | implement it on them and the best way to do that is |
| foods. Completely try to avoid taken them to fast | | | | to work with them; having them work with you. |