We could be facing a childhood obesity epidemic this decade
unless we get children off the couches and doing exercise.
Fitness expert and personal trainer Gary Dawkins has some
tips.
The growing popularity of home entertainment systems,
combined with the convenience of fast foods, is a recipe for
obesity unless we take action.
Sure, it may be easier to sit the kids in front of television
with hot chips and a drink than it is to take them to the
park, but the rewards come only after the hard work has been
done.
More and more parents and carers are sacrificing the
long-term positives for the"quick fixes". But this
short-sighted approach could have damaging consequences for
children.
They are likely to be overweight, unfit, diabetes-prone, face
increased risk of coronary heart disease and cancer, just to
name a few of the potential health consequences.
In the first year of this decade, three out of five adults
and two out of five children are overweight, according to the
American College of Sports Medicine, giving weight to the
suggestion the second decade of the 21st century could be
remembered in the West as the obesity epidemic.
If we believe the development and learning of children is led
by older role models, then we have a big problem: 67% of
people in the older group are considered overweight.
Children who learn to eat correctly and are active every day
have a better shot at being successful in school and in life.
But, our children's health and their ability to learn is in
jeopardy. The statistics are alarming and should encourage us
all to take action.
HEALTHY HABITS FOR CHILDREN
- Easy to follow nutritional steps...
• Prepare your weekly meals seven days in advance.
• Write down the foods the household will need for breakfast,
morning snacks, lunches, afternoon snacks and dinners for a
week.
• Insist your child has breakfast.
• Prepare a shopping list seven days in advance so only items
on the list are purchased.
• Changing what is in the child's lunch box may well be your
greatest challenge. Make gradual changes to its contents.
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