Teaching Your Children About Childhood Obesity

Obesity has become a prevalent problem in today’s society. Children have been brought into a fast paced world always on the run and eating out. It’s no wonder that the childhood obesity rate has almost tripled. And most, if not all of the blame should be placed on parents. Teaching your children about childhood obesity is the first step in preventing it from becoming out of control.

There are several different things to consider when trying to teach your child about obesity. Physical exercise, healthy eating habits, and taking care of our bodies are just the beginning. Let’s talk a little more about these three areas of teaching.

Physical Exercise

When adults think about exercise, their thoughts commonly turn to working out at the gym or running on the treadmill. For kids however, working out takes on a different meaning, and for them it probably isn’t considered a physical workout. Physical exercise can consist of things such as playing baseball with friends, going to soccer practice, or to dance class. Recess is also considered to be a form of exercise. Active kids can benefit from regular exercise by:

· Having stronger muscles and bones
· Having a leaner body
· Controlling body fat
· Decreases the risk of developing type II diabetes
· Can lower blood pressure and cholesterol

Kids should be getting a minimum of fifteen minutes of exercise daily; a minimum. They can get up to sixty minutes if possible. Parents need to teach their children the benefits of exercise and get them involved in physical activities to stay fit and healthy. Get your kids out of the house, away from the television and computer, and outside playing.

Healthy eating habits

A healthy diet is yet another way to keep kids from becoming obese, and teaching them how to eat healthy foods is extremely important. With a fast paced world, children have become accustomed to eating fast foods and unhealthy snacks. Get rid of the chip bags from the cupboard and replace them with a healthy bag of crackers. Cut out the soda and replace it with some water. Kids don’t naturally know what foods are good for them and tend to love all the sweets. Here are some suggestions on how to help your child have healthy eating habits:

· Cook healthy meals. Instead of eating out, go to the store and buy some food for healthy well balanced meals.

· Incorporate fruit and vegetables into their daily meals and snacks. It is essential that kids get their Five a Day requirements and it begins with you.

· Prepare healthy snacks ahead of time so that they don’t go rummaging through the cupboard looking for the chips or candy.

Taking care of your body

As a parent it is your responsibility to teach them how to care for their bodies. Eating unhealthy foods will cause severe health problems like diabetes, or high blood pressure which can lead to other health problems. Teaching them to stay away from harmful substances and just to take care of their bodies can truly help prevent some of the problems with obesity children are facing today.

Teaching your children about childhood obesity and the dangers it presents can help prevent them from making the same mistakes that some of the other children have already made. Living a healthy lifestyle, eating healthy, and staying active are just a few of the ways children can steer clear from obesity.