Keep Children Healthy in the New Year
Childhood obesity is growing to epidemic proportions. At least 16 percent of children and teens ages 6 to 19 are considered overweight. This percentage more than tripled since 1980 and is projected to get worse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, parents can prevent childhood obesity early by teaching kids to eat healthy and maintain regular physical activity.
Causes of childhood obesity
Health experts attribute the increase of overweight and obese teens to a sedentary lifestyle. For instance, more children choose to play countless hours of video games or watch television rather than play outside or engage in any physical activity. What's more, obesity leads to serious health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease and other conditions that can lead to serious, life-long health issues.
Other health problems linked to obesity include:
- Gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Stroke
- High cholesterol
- Some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon)
Prevention
Parents can help implement healthy habits for their children by limiting the amount of hours spent watching TV or playing video games. Also, a regular exercise schedule should be introduced using activities that interest children and teens. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that children try to exercise for at least one hour a day.
Additionally, more fruits and vegetables should be integrated into the family's eating habits. Consuming more of these foods is a healthy way to maintain or loose weight, according to the CDC.
It's also important for parents to help overweight and obese children understand the connection between the amounts of energy the human body absorbs (through foods and beverages consumed) and the energy it uses (through physical activities).
Government agencies such as the CDC and USDA, hope to decrease the number of young, overweight or obese Americans to 15 percent by the year 2010. And if parents introduce these healthy habits at home, children have a chance of leading healthy adult lives.
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