The news has been laden with the fact that obesity in children is reaching overwhelming percentages. I hope the following information will be helpful to parents seeking solutions to this situation. I would like to preface this article by saying I was an obese child. At the age of 13 I was around 5 feet tall I weighed in at 160 pounds. My heart goes out to children in this category as I know it was not a happy time in my life.
As was my case, research shows that the root of the problem with our children, as with adults, is that we are suffering from emotional eating. My mother, unfortunately, was not well versed on healthy nutrition and if I was having a difficult day or feeling upset her usual solution was, “Go get a dish of ice cream.” Now truthfully, that was the last thing I needed!
Childhood and adolescence obesity increases the risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and type 2 diabetes as a youth. One disease of particular concern is Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and has increased dramatically in children and adolescents, particularly in American Indian, African American and Hispanic/Latino populations.
Family environment can definitely add to emotional eating problems. With the divorce rate on the rise as well, a lot of children are dealing with split custody situations. Or, if the parents are choosing to stay together for the sake of the children, the increased tension in the household between the parents does not promote a healthy environment.
Lack of healthy communication and support between parents and their children creates insecurity within the child and only adds to the challenges they are facing in their lives. Quality time spent with your children is much more important than quantity of time. With a lot of parents having to work two jobs to make ends meet with our economic crisis it is difficult to spend quality time with their children. Let’s face it by the time you get home after working two jobs you barely have the energy to climb into bed let alone have a good one on one conversation with our children.
While on the issue of time this prompts another issue. Fast- food, or prepared foods you pick up at the grocery store are not going to be as healthy as meals you personally prepare taking into consideration the nutritional value of what you are eating. Remember excessive calories and lack of exercise is going to result in stored fat!
Children who come home after school and spend hours alone may not be making the healthiest food choices. Be sure that the snacks that are available are not going to sabotage a good eating program. It might take some extra planning on your part, but it will definitely be worth it. The internet is full of tips and suggestions for making right food choices.
Being overweight causes self esteem problems amongst peers causing self-induced pressure and leading to a child feeling very overwhelmed. Overweight children lack popularity with other children. It is sad to say, but it is true. They end up feeling “different” and alone.
When children are experiencing these situations they turn to something to lessen these feelings. Some children turn to “comfort food”. This is a real problem. Instead of being able to sit down and talk over what is bothering them, children turn to a dish of ice cream, a bowl of cookies and a glass of milk, or other less than nutritious food choices.
Before dealing with the food issue, it is important to recognize if there are other issues involved. Create a healthy communication and support system for your child. Once that is established it will be a lot easier to get the message about healthy nutrition and exercise across and show them the process that will benefit them, not only now in their younger years but even as an adult.
Healthy, fit bodies fill our air waves putting more stress on those of us, children and adults alike, whose bodies are not picture perfect. Vitality takes second place to physical appearance.
Living a healthy life involves much more than just your appearance. Exercise, healthy food and nutrition choices will play a big part in the quality of your child’s life now and later. It is important to get your child’s attention by sharing with them the illnesses mentioned previously in this article that can be directly related to obesity. Choose the tactics you will use with your child before you delve into your conversation. Perhaps there is a family member that suffers, or suffered from illnesses related to obesity.
There are many mixed messages out there. It is important for parents to be involved with proper education in helping their children. Too often the blame is placed on the school lunch program or someone else responsible for caring for the child.
In closing, I personally feel that a good way to approach a situation with an overweight child is to make it a family effort. Everyone in the family can do well to learn better eating habits and a healthy exercise routine. Our children have an overabundance of video games. Unlike the “days of old” when kids were out playing ball or other outdoor activities, many children sit for hours in front of video games. The Wii System can be an asset with its many programs that get children up and moving.
Yes, obesity is a hard thing to deal with. As I am finishing up this article the thought crossed my mind that this is a situation that can be challenging to deal with, but the same situations that cause emotional eating habits can also drive children into much more serious problems, like drugs.
Our children are valuable human beings. God has put them in our lives to raise and help them grow up to be individuals that will add value to this world. I hope that you will find the time and joy to develop a happy, secure lifestyle with your children. I wish you success in dealing with obesity in children.
Judy Conway
Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
Skype ID: judy.conway
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=29256340-c43a-473f-a841-d1d3ac74118e)
2009 is coming to an end. How many of us have met our weight loss resolutions? Why did you not lose weight in 2009? It is so very hard. I want to encourage you that you still have 52 more days to still chisel away at those pounds! Do not give up! Just keep your goal in sight.
I know that I am not about to give up. I might not have lost all the weight I had set forth to lose, but at least I have not gained. To me that is a plus. Even if you finish out the year having lost only 10 or so pounds, you have done well. Congratulations! It is a beginning for more weight loss in 2010.
I have been on a diet since I was 13 years old. I have lost myself time and time again. I did have one short spell in my life for about three or four years where I had lost about 70 pounds and had kept it off.
Alas, then came divorce, I became a single mom, had a hysterectomy and quit smoking. What was I ever thinking? Bit by bit those pounds crept back on. I have tried the same diets I have gone on in the past and lost weight. The only difference is they are not working any more.
I look at people around me on the same diet I am doing and they are losing and I am not losing an ounce. Why? It is so very frustrating. Have you ever been in that situation?
Recently I read an article in the First for Women magazine, their November 16th, 2009 issue, entitled, “Always Craving Carbs?”. This article has confirmed to me what I have discovered lately.
You see, I have a Metabolism problem, and have even been diagnosed with insulin resistance. I have followed to the tee eating programs given to me by a nutritionist at my physician’s office. No progress whatsoever. I often feel that people are looking at me are thinking, “Yeah, right, she has got to be cheating on her program.” Trust me I am not. Lately, I discovered that carbohydrates are affecting me differently than they do other people.
This article deals with a book written by Diane Kress, R.D., titled, “The Metabolism Miracle”. She goes into detail about the fact that everyone is not a Metabolism A person. There are about 46% of us who fall into the alternative Metabolism B Category. This means that our bodies will not respond to the same diet program that a Metabolism A person’s body does. This is probably why the plan my nutritionist gave me did not work.
There are three steps to this program. I have just begun Step One which will last for eight weeks. This will be a low carb period to rest my overworked pancreas and liver while shrinking fat cells. During this period there should be a decrease in cholesterol (hurray), triglycerides (double hurray), blood sugar and blood pressure.
I am going to be devoted to this program for many reasons. Mainly, I do not want to live my life with deteriorating health conditions, increased medications and possibly insulin. Even as I write these words, it only confirms that this is a matter of life or death to me. I am 63 years old and have a lot more years I want to spend with my family and to be able to watch my grandchildren grow up and start their lives. I might be selfish, but I do not want to miss out on those times. My family is very important to me. It has been the glue that has held my life together.
Here are a few clues that you might have Metabolism B:
Of course, before you embark on this or any diet program, check with your doctor. At least get a full blood workup so you will be able to check you numbers and make a decision for yourself that this could be an answer to your weight problem.
I will be keeping you posted on my blog as to my progress. I have not had success with my physician’s guidance, or lack thereof, in losing weight. I do know that a lot of my symptoms are outlined in “The Metabolism Miracle” and I just cannot walk away from it without giving it a try.
I am also using Leslie Sansone’s, “Walk Away the Pounds Express” DVD which gives me a brisk two mile walk that amounts to thirty minutes of increased heart rate.
I am looking forward to welcoming 2010 on the road to better health. I will also have been able to lose weight in 2009! I am not going to be asking myself the same question this time next year, “Why did you not lose weight in 2010?” I hope that this has been helpful to you. Please feel free to comment and if you choose to try this program, let me know how you are doing. We can all encourage to one another.
Blessings,
Judy Conway
Skype ID: judy.conway