Chitika

Chitika

onsdag 25 november 2009

Heading Off Childhood Obesity Starts at Home

By Dave Owen

It is interesting how frequently families today rely on the school system to teach their kids all kinds of things other than just reading, writing and arithmetic. Many parents assign the obligation for avoiding childhood obesity on the shoulders of the school board as well, assuming that gym courses and nutrition should be part of the school's curriculum so that kids can continue to be fit and healthy. This is a very ill-judged position by parents and one that is a surefire recipe for tragedy. To fight childhood obesity and to keep children healthy and ablee-bodied, there must be modifications made in the home first and foremost.

One of the reasons that parents can't trust the school systems to accept this is that many schools just can't offer gym courses the way they once did. Schools are usually overcrowded these days so the gymnasium needs to perform as a lunchroom for more hours than ever before. Without regular physical exercise, childhood obesity is an almost certainty. And just instructing a child about calories and fat and nutritional content of food doesn't mean that he or she is going to avoid junk food and fast food as well! Just knowing about these matters is not motive sufficient to help a child make the choices needed to avoid childhood obesity.

A parent's model and what happens in the home is probably a better indication of whether or not childhood obesity can be avoided. Children generally learn lifestyle options and attitudes from their parents whether they're aware of it or not. Parents that are active and that always have something to do will probably raise children that are active and busy as well. Those parents that sit on the couch all night along with the weekends could find childhood obesity a problem in their own home. This is because children are learning to be sedentary and inactive. If a parent takes the effort to cook meals that are simple but nourishing a child will learn to value wholesome food and to take the extra time and effort required to prepare such dishes. But when a parent is regularly falling back on drive-through meals and other poor dietary alternatives, a child may learn that such food is acceptable. This also may lead to cases of childhood obesity in the home.

Parents too can set limits with their children when they're with them to assist avoid childhood obesity. No one can altogether control their child when they're on their own, but providing only nutritious meals and snacks when children are home will decrease any damage they're doing by consuming junk at every other time! Many cases of childhood obesity are also linked to inaction during the day and evening. With this in mind parents can schedule times to go to a zoo, aquarium, or other places where everyone walks around. Other way to help avert childhood obesity by biking, walking, playing catch, playing Frisbee, setting up a badminton net, or other activities that involve all the family members.

As a parent, you must take responsibility for the health of your child. This includes making sure that he/she gets proper nutrition along with adequate exercise. Without this, they may become one of the many kids that are falling thru the cracks into obesity.

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