| The Mayo Clinic reports that over the past two decades the prevalence of children overweight doubled for American children ages 6 to 11 and tripled for American teenagers. This is truly a scary epidemic that must be stopped at all costs. Because the cost to our country’s overweight children is the early onset of adult health problems such as diseases, heart disease, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol…not to mention the social and psychological consequences. The statistics get even worse when you consider that the National Health and Nutrition Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about one-third of American children are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. That’s 25 million children and adolescents!
Although there are some genetic and hormonal causes of childhood overweight, the majority of these children eats too much and/or exercises and physically plays too little. It’s as simple as calories consumed and calories burned - even though the prevention and treatment is anything but simple. Because it starts with you!
Start today and set a good example in both creating and enjoying a healthy balanced diet and becoming more physically active. We all know that children parrot the behavior of their parents. So what behaviors are your children imitating in your home? Is it a sedentary lifestyle with more couch time than activity time? Is it platters full of convenience foods and empty-caloric sweets versus a nutritionally-rich, fiber-laden variety? Do you sit down at the dinner table for family meals or eat in front of the TV or computer screen? Do you drink water or soda? Does snack time occur all of the time? Do you physically play with your kids?
Whatever your answers were to my queries, you know what the correct answers should be. So make it so and take action today! If you repeat a new behavior for a month it can become a habit. A habit that will be beneficial to both you and your children. -- PC
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