Austin, TX – Back-to-school
time means new books, new teachers and a trip to the mall
for some new clothes. And when it’s time to buy those new
clothes, parents always notice how much their children have
grown. But the problem for today’s kids can be that they’re
not just growing taller – they’re growing fatter.
According to the American
Obesity Association, over nine million children ages six and
over have been diagnosed as clinically obese. And they’ve
packed on the pounds under their parents very eyes. “Those
added pounds aren’t just a cosmetic concern,” says Felicia
DeVargas, Director of Health Risk Management at The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic (ADC). “They can have serious future
health consequences. So to protect your children’s future
health, healthy lifestyle choices and changes need to be
made by both parent and child.” |
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National Health Crisis
In the past, obesity was not a major health problem in America.
Physical activity and healthy food was a staple in American
society as people walked to work or school, and families sat
down to a home-cooked meal together at night.
But as technology has increased and become a more integral part
of everyday life, kids have started to trade in sports and
after-school activities for video games and TV.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) estimates that
the average child is watching about three hours of television a
day and is spending five and a half hours a day on all media
combined.In addition to
the nine million children who are obese, nine to ten million
more are considered overweight and on their way to becoming
another obesity statistic. “The real crisis comes about because
of the countless health problems that can be a result of an
overweight lifestyle,” says DeVargas. “The number of asthma and
type 2 diabetes cases is rising in young children, due in large
part to eating and exercise habits.” So what can parents and
children do to avoid a lifetime of health problems?
Choose to be Healthy
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle comes down to choices, and
learning how to make the right ones starts at home.
Kids learn healthy behaviors by watching adults, mainly parents
who show through their own actions what is healthy and what is
not. So the next time you put that piece of candy in your mouth,
think about who’s watching. DeVargas recommends some simple
things parents can do to encourage a healthy home:
• Implement a healthy diet
rich in fruits, vegetables and lean protein for your entire
family. From lunchboxes to dinners to snacks, keep the high
fat and sugar choices to a minimum.
• Prepare foods together – whether it’s packing lunches or
making dinner, children can learn about healthy cooking and
food preparation.
• Eat dinner together – this is a must. It allows you a
chance to learn what healthy food items your children do
enjoy, so that you can be sure to prepare them more often.
You also have the ability to control portion size and your
child will learn what is appropriate, which will help them
to make the right choices at school and with their friends.
• Slow down - eating too quickly doesn’t allow enough time
to digest and to know when you’re really full.
• Have healthy snack foods easily accessible – leave fruit
on the counter or in an obvious place in the fridge.
Vegetables and yogurt also make great snacks.
• Limit the frequency of fast-food eating to no more than
once per week.
• Avoid using food as a reward or the lack of food as
punishment.
Food lessons learned early on
will help your child to develop healthy eating habits that will
stay with them for years to come.
If your children are eating
right, the next step is to get them moving. The Department of
Health and Human Services suggests that kids over the age of 2
need 60 minutes or more a day of physical activity. There are
many ways to create and promote an active lifestyle for your
child.
“Find out what sports or
extracurricular activities they are interested in and encourage
them to participate,” says DeVargas. “If they know that they
have support at home, they will be more willing to try new
things and stick with it.”
Team sports are also a great
way for kids to not only get exercise, but be social as well.
Establishing a routine in which physical activity is an everyday
occurrence will keep them from becoming accustomed to a
sedentary lifestyle.
Not only can exercise improve
how a child feels physically, it can also be emotionally
rewarding. “Obesity can be socially devastating and can
negatively affect self esteem,” explains DeVargas. “If children
are constantly teased or ostracized, the feelings of inadequacy
can be internalized, leading to more severe problems down the
road such as depression.” Keeping children physically active can
help them feel good about themselves from the inside out.
The Choice is Yours
Because of the high risk of disease and obesity in adulthood, it
is important for parents to lay the foundation for a healthy
life at an early stage. Eating and exercise habits learned in
the home as a child will help them to make more responsible
choices later when they are at school and with their friends.
What you teach your child now will carry through to adulthood,
so it’s up to you to choose and create a healthy home for your
child.
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