Friday, February 27, 2009

Obesity & Our Children

parents now a days are both working, the kids are either latch key, or they are with sitters. Some schools have programs that the kids can stay until one of the parents show up for them. A mother working full time and also juggling the household, finds this very tiring and stressful, they may try to make amends to their kid's because they are away working most of the time. They indulge them the wrong way, either with the wrong foods or buying them gift's. This post is about our children being obese, this is happening at an alarming rate.

There are a large percent of grown people overweight, and this is becoming a big problem with their health also. I am concentrating on our children, we love them and want to see them live healthy, productive lives. If you have ever gone to a grade school or high school, you will see how alarming this problem is. Some schools are trying to address this problem by setting up certain exercising programs, I have read about this and some people think the programs are not adequate. Many children can not handle a divorce, they may turn to many outlets to compensate, such as over eating, drugs or choosing the wrong friends. After all they are just children and trying to cope with life, God Bless them.

Some of the things that make our kids over weight is wrong kind of snacks, this is a big factor. Other things are TV, Video games, computers and cell phones, almost every child I see has a cell phone attached to their ears.All these activities encourage snacking while doing them, and they choose quick snacks, they don't have to mess around making, such as chips, cookies sodas and so on. Schools don't help, by placing vending machines that have snacks and pop in them.

Lets face it our children are becoming couch potatoes, sitting way too much, parents can help by addressing this issue with healthier snacks. They can make a change by having in the house fresh veggies, low carb dip, fresh fruit, diet pop and low calories snacks. I know even the grown ups cringe at anything diet, but some of them are very tasty, you know the saying "try em, you might like em", well something like that. The parents can have set times for TV, video games and cell phone, especially when the kids have homework.

If this is archived, children will loose weight, start having more self confidence in how they look, be healthier and more active. Here is ways parents can help the kids get active, give them household chores, such as making beds, dusting, taking out the trash, cleaning their rooms, sweep or mop. Just put on your thinking cap, you are getting them involved and this is promoting exercise, the kids won't know your goals, they will think you are being mean.

They need to be out of doors, have them mowing the lawn, weeding, raking leaves or helping to clean out the garage and in the winter shoveling snow, cleaning off the car and making sure paths are cleared to the trash or the bird feeders. Down deep kids like to help out, they just need us to motivate them. Other ways for more exercise is the whole family get involved by bike rides, picnics, swimming at the beach or in a pool. The new video game Wii is a very good way to exercise your whole body, you have to be moving to play it.

Children of all ages need guidance, whether it's doing chores, helping outside or being involved in family fun. Children need to stay healthy , not become sluggish and become overweight. In the United States at least one child in five is overweight and this continues to grow, this is astonishing, we as parents need to wake up to these statics and help our overweight children. A doctor determines if a child is overweight by measuring their height and weight, if you think your kids are overweight talk to their doctor.

10 comments:

  1. Hi Margaret,

    So very true. Great post! Of course, many adults are obese as well. We seem to have an epidemic of obesity.

    Have a good weekend.

    Renie

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  2. All that you said is true, but doing it is the hard part. I was always a thin person until the 40s and then the weight started to pile up. I have been a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers for more years than I like to admit. But, unless you follow their program for the rest of your life, the weight comes back. It isn't as easy to take off the pounds as it sounds. I feel sorry for the young generation now days also. But, weight lose is one of the hardest things to do and you have to be motivated to want to do it, before it will even work a little bit.

    Have a nice week-end!

    Ann

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  3. HI! good day and happy weekend to the greatest couple in the world..hehe! of course its u and ur loving husband...i wish i cud find a man like u have hehe! great post! i also tackled obesity in my previous post in the month of january its an interesting subject...i think..but anyway i hope u have time to visit my blog i tag u. and i wish u would participate its really really cool u wil enjoy it..it just something for u to do in ur weekend and hope u r not that busy..hehehe!! take care...always..

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  4. Hi Margaret,

    To answer the question you asked my about my header picture and if it is my back yard. It used to be my back yard, but 11 years ago we sold our farm in Maryland and moved to Iowa. The picture is probably 20 years old. But, I always liked it and so posted it. Thank you for commenting on it and you too have a nice week and week-end.

    Ann

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  5. this is our first visit. we are a catblog.
    but maw read this post and wanted to say she really agress. this is a growing (literally) problem for youth AND adults.
    it just takes a tiny bit out of the day to get some exercise bt it is not something people think about until they are older. it is never too late to start. but alot of young kids just dont get it.

    great post!!!

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  6. it is a main problem the world is facing now...you are brave enough to take this matter in to concern...
    thanks for sharing....
    take care :)

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  7. That's quite a thought provoking post!
    All the best and happy blogging!
    http://aspaceofonesown.blogspot.com

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  8. I agree with you completely. Becoming couch potatoes eating junk food is what I worry about young kids these days. I'm seeing too many children looking like they are heavier than they should be.

    Have a wonderful Sunday.

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  9. Great blog!! All so true a major problem that our world is facing.

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  10. I think you have a lot of great pints here. But I also think there are points missed. Now I am not one to blame genetics for things, but there is a role it does play and we as parents must watch for signals as well as watch what we give our children. I have also asked if their height weight ratio was correct for each other. My father died very young so it worries me about my children.

    Perhaps like has become so full because we feel we must live up to what society deems what we should be that we drop the ball. Unfortunately, society isn't changing, if anything its hindering, and 40 years ago many children had a parent at home, where now a family cannot afford to be there especially if one is a single parent.

    But if we think we cannot afford to watch what our children eat then we are far more gone than I think.

    Nice post.
    T

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