NJMom

Hey guys--
I recently came across this article about childhood obesity, with advice regarding how to get kids more interested in healthy foods and exercise (which can definitely be a battle).
Below is the article. What do you all think?
Family Bonding Fights Childhood Obesity
Baby Power Forever Kids founder Linda Searles discusses how creating healthy kids is a family affair

With distractions like television, the internet, and video games, kids are exercising less and eating more. These stimuli have had an astoundingly negative effect; 17.1% of children between the ages of 2-16 are obese, with the percentage rate steadily climbing. A decrease in exercise isn't all to blame, however; snacks with high fat, sugar and little nutritional content are becoming increasingly more prevalent in schools and homes. These poor diet and exercise habits can carry kids through to adulthood with the risk of serious health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Despite these stacked odds, families can take steps to prevent their kids from the dangers of childhood obesity.

Child expert Linda Searles, founder of Baby Power Forever Kids has been instrumental in promoting healthy habits for kids with her unique classes that have been exercising children’s bodies and minds and teaching moms tools for parent/child bonding for three decades. Now Linda is passing steps families can take together that will boost moods, familial relationships, health, and bodies.

Get up and dance. Just by taking 15 minutes out of your day to turn on music and dance, you’re giving kids a fun, easy way of getting exercise that both you and them can look forward to.

Create healthy menus with your kids. Old habits are hard to change, but by slowly replacing sugar or fat filled snacks with fruits or vegetables, you’ll be gradually changing the way your child eats. By actively involving your children in the process, mealtime will become more exciting. Gradual changes are more likely to stick in the long run, too.

Equate TV & computer time with exercise. For every hour your kids spend on the computer or watching TV, make it a point for them to spend 15 minutes being active.

Encourage your kids to do warm-ups before homework. Before we start the educational classes at Baby Power, we have the kids spend some time in our gym. Studies have shown that the mind is much more relaxed and receptive to learning after the body has stretched and warmed up.

Be a positive role model. The most effective way to get kids to get healthy is to lead by example. Make it a point to eat healthy and get active, and they’ll follow.

By bringing these changes into your home, Linda also ensures that you’ll notice not only a healthier, happier child, but a healthier, happier you. "With an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits, you’ll notice that you’ll have a positively happy family on your hands."

Kaytee

I personally think the best way to go is by starting them off from birth with a healthy lifestyle. My child exercises and eats healthy fruits and veggies every day because that is just what you do on a normal day.
I suppose if you don't start life this way, this sounds just fine

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jtee

NJMom, Do have a child, or know of children that have problem with obsesity?

Kaytee

...or just like to spam?

__________________

If you can't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!
http://www.spcnicholasidalski.com

NJMom

I wasn't trying to spam.
A friend of mine's children have weight issues already, at the ages of 7 and 9, and my friend is always having to bribe her children to do something other than play Nintendo Wii or watch television.
I thought the article might be helpful, was trying to see if anyone else had similar problems, and how they were dealing with them.

musicmom

Just because a child sits and does nothing is not the reason they are gaining weight. I lost 30 pounds and did not excercise. Activity is good for a child and they should have it just for health reasons.
But when a child is obese it's usually because of what goes in the childs mouth. This is where a parent has to take responsibility. Take away the video games, unplug the television. There is just a plethera of things a parent can do to get a child to be active. What is the parent doing? I know that if I go to a football field with a ball my children are going to want to play with me. Is this person setting an example?

crimson_moon

My daughter, who's 9, and will be 10 in April literally weighs 18 lbs. less than I do. I weigh 121 and she weighs 102. I'm 5'4" and she's 4'10!
FACT:
The AVERAGE 10 yr. old female child is 4' 6"; with an AVERAGE weight of 77 lbs. CLEARLY my daughter doesn't fall into that average... she's 4 inches taller and 25 lbs. heavier. So... how much is too much for the above average child?

I do think that childhood obesity is to be taken seriously. There are certainly REAL risks here. I'd just like to get some opinions on this. The doctor asked that she LOSE 10 lbs. by the end of the school year. That's quite a ways away. She hasn't lost any weight and I have changed her diet already. But I am not about to freak out about it because I know she'll be reaching puberty any time now which will change everything - either good or bad.

JohannaEspinos

Of course childhood obesity is a serious issue that affects not only childs health but also their social life and self-esteeme.

My baby eats a lot like 6 times a day or so, and I attempt to make all these meals nutritious: fruits, vegetables, linseed bread, wheat cookies, chicken, yogurth, etc... but I understand as well i have a girl, of course she likes candies and junk food, so she have 1 candy a day and weekends she can eat junk food (like mcdonalds) with her grannies, is fair for bouth parts, I can sleep at night thinking I'm feeding my daugther healthy and she doesn´t think I'm mean...

Another think you need to keep in mind your child genes, if she or he have obese parents you need to take extra care

__________________
:p All these little people will grow up and make this world a better place, is up to us so.... let' bring it moms and dads!!!

crimson_moon

amyjo5995

I think kids, just like adults, come in all shapes and sizes. Yes, the rate of childhood obesity is alarming, but you also have to look at each individual child. My personal experience is that my oldest son is 11 yrs old, weighs in at 195lbs, is 5ft, 5inchs tall and already wears a size 10 1/2 mens shoe. Yes, he is a little pudgy, but he is very active-I have to drag both of my boys in from outside when it gets time for supper. He is also pretty good about making good choices for snacks. He is just as apt to grab celery, carrots, or apples or pop some popcorn for a snack than anything. I also look at my family history. All of my male cousins were a tad pudgy growing up, but now have grown into men at least 6'6", if not taller. I think if the child was not active, didn't play outside, and ate constant junk food, I would be more concerned.