Childhood Obesity

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

It was always known that children are our future. (healthyamericans). What if our future leaders are all unhealthy and obese, because they were faced with childhood obesity? In 2008, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimated that 33.8% of adults in the United States were obese, and this problem is becoming a huge factor and it needs a solution, starting with our children. Michelle Obama has taken the initiative to step up and speak out in the “LET’S MOVE” campaign, becoming and beneficial. Companies such as Pepsi, Mars, and Kraft have jumped on board for the fight to childhood obesity, by reducing calories, to help create a healthier youth (slate.com, AlterNet). Along with the government and other companies taking control the parents should also help make the decision of their child’s destination (KIMBERLY-CLARK). I’ve pointed the finger at Parents, it’s natural for a child to crave unhealthy foods but, it’s the parents who supply it. They are grabbed by our fast pace lifestyles. Their Kids do not go out and play till dark any more instead, they sit at home eating, playing video games, and watching TV (Newsweek). Most parents do not realize 1 out of 3 children are obese or overweight (kidshealth).
I have a method of changing childhood obesity: putting the weight on the parents’ shoulders. As a parent, sooner or later you will have to take responsibility for your child’s future. First a parent needs to star with their child’s eating habits, making sure the whole family is involved. It wouldn’t be fair if the obese child is the only one forced to eat healthy. It takes every one (usnews). A parent should start slowly replacing their child’s favorite unhealthy foods with something healthy. They must inform them they can still eat their favorite foods in a healthier way.
Obese children face higher risks of multiple medical problems, social isolation, and recurring health issues. Children are suffering from diabetes and heart disease by the age of 3 this is more than a child with baby fat (time). Without parents taking action, their child might be at risk. Children have turned into the boss of their appetites, instead of their parents introducing them to a healthier lifestyle.
Exercise whether it’s playing more in the park, riding bikes, and watching less television is the key to healthy child such as playing more in the park, riding bikes, and watching less television. The zombie minds of parents and others who influence children are going to keep ruining their future when they constantly give and never take and break habits, this has gone on long enough (softpedia). If parents do not wake up they will realize too late that we’re killing ourselves before life can kill us. Eating poorly is a hard habit to break especially for a picky child. You can’t change a child’s diet in one day, but rather eat less of the bad and more of the good.
Parents should take advantage of the changes these companies have made and enforce their demand of a healthier lifestyle, if so they will notice a change in their child’s health. They also need to give constant encouragement rewarding them their efforts, setting up goals. This way the child will have motivation to get up and move(ezinearticles).
Parents and children should start cooking family meals together, so they can learn how to replace good with the bad. Children have their own minds and if they are being taught the right way they will know, then their children will know, and so on. Parents are the most influential towards a child they must change as well to get the message to them. Another solution is having a schedule for each child how long they watch TV play video games and stopping unnecessary eating. Children are so precious we need to take charge, if my methods are used by the parents the fight with childhood obesity will be victorious.