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- Childhood Obesity and Health
One of the most serious health hazards facing children in the developed world is the problem of obesity. In fact, the combination of childhood obesity and health is so important that it’s warranted cover stories for both Time and Newsweek magazines. The problem is multi-faceted... It covers such subjects as the fast food industry, the adding of enzymes, steroids and other non-natural ingredients to foods such as milk, as well as the strategic placement of vending machines in schools, cinemas, and shopping areas. Childhood obesity and health is now dominating conversations within the World Health Organization, the US Department of Health & Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control not to mention myriad state legislatures.
- Statistics Tell the Story...
Statistics gathered through clinical studies and trials show the following:
During the past three decades, the number of overweight children throughout the world has doubled.
In the United States, more than thirty percent (30%) of the children studied (ages 6-19) are generally considered to be overweight. Of those, approximately fifteen percent (15%) are listed as obese.
Quite a few different health issues are apparent in obese and overweight children, most especially high blood pressure and diabetes - both of which lead to even more serious complications over time... Both of these conditions are now often treated with specific medications which previously had been used only by adults.
Several research studies have concluded that individuals who are considered overweight as children will, most likely, face the life long prospect of obesity.
- What Can Be Done?
First, all educators and parents need to understand childhood obesity and how it relates to a long, healthy lifetime. Besides controlling diet through programs such as Weight Watchers or the Atkins Plan, children themselves must make a commitment to eating smart. Obese children must also adopt a plan that eliminates high carbohydrate refined foods from their diet, and must commit to a regular exercise regimen. In addition, psychological factors should be addressed. Schools have traditionally taught health as a subject, but more of the focus simply has to be placed on the problem of weight and its related problems.
Attend your parent/teacher conferences and school open houses regularly. Keep abreast of what your child’s teacher and school are doing to help combat this ever-burgeoning problem of childhood obesity. Stay informed, and translate that information into action at every opportunity!
- Caveat
Make sure your school district is fully aware of all the recent research about soft drinks and their contribution to the obesity problem. A few short years ago being a Pepsi district or Coke district was all the rage. Thousands of districts signed lucrative contracts with Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola to permit vending machines on campuses in return for a healthy share of the profits. The money may have been nice, but the contribution to child obesity certainly was not!
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