Family
Exercise
By Cyndi
Schoenhals
CPT and Fitness Writer
The
Problem of Obesity
In
the January 1, 2003 edition of USA Today, a report on childhood obesity was published.
According to the report by the American Heart Association, 8.8 million youth in
the U.S., ages 6-19, were considered overweight or obese. That means that, in
January, 2003, 15% of children and adolescents in that age group had reached unhealthy
weights and levels of body fat! That's a substantial increase in the number of
overweight children and adolescents just since 1998, when 11.3% of 6 to 11-year-olds
and 10.5% of 12 to 19-year-olds were found to be overweight or obese. Obesity
in children is reaching epidemic proportions! What can be done about this situation?
Teach
Good, Healthy Habits Early
According
to the AHA, obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease...even in
children!
Robert
Bonow, president of the American Heart Association and chief of cardiology at
Northwestern Medical School in Chicago, attributes the substantial rise in the
number of overweight and obese children to a number of factors. Among these factors
are less physical activity and the consumption of more calories and fat.
Part
of the solution to this problem, therefore, would be to decrease the amount of
calories and fat consumed by these children and to increase their physical activity.
It
is the responsibility of parents to set a good example for their children and
to teach them healthy habits early in childhood. Their lives depend upon this!
What better way to set an example and teach your children about healthy lifestyles
than by spending quality time with them...exercising with them, engaging in play
with them, and eating healthy meals as a family!
Diet
and Exercise
If
you've been eating fast food for so long that you've forgotten how to prepare
a healthy meal at home, you may always consult the USDA's Food Pyramid to use
as a guide. If you train yourself and your children to eat the minimum servings
from each food group, you'll ensure that you're getting the proper nutrients and
adequate caloric intake. By following the Food Pyramid, you'll be eating a diet
that you can live with for life!
Eat
slowly and teach your children to eat slowly. Take time to taste each bite and
to actually chew and savor your food. This will give your stomach a chance to
let your brain know that you're full before you've eaten everything in sight!
Keep healthy snacks...especially, a variety of fruits and vegetables...in your
pantry and refrigerator. Try to avoid buying all that junk food you're so accustomed
to keeping around! Eventually, you and your children will stop craving all those
greasy potato chips and sugary chocolate chip cookies! And, your bodies will thank
you!
Now,
here's an even bigger challenge: exercise!!!! But, hear me out! Why not encourage
the children to join you for a stroll through the neighborhood after dinner, instead
of plopping down in front of the tv with a bowl of buttery popcorn and a soda?
How about asking your kids to join you in some children's physical activities?
Remember how much fun it used to be to jump rope or roller skate? Oh, and don't
forget the Hoola Hoop! There are so many fun ways to get the family members involved
in moving their bodies and burning some calories. Be creative! Be playful! You
can even teach the little ones some simple Yoga stretches! No one said that exercise
had to be boring and monotonous! The point is, get up and get moving! And, take
the children with you!
I
know! I know! You've got a busy schedule, and it's difficult to find the time
and energy to exercise or to prepare healthy meals. But, for the sake of your
children's health, please...make the effort! You'll be glad you did!