Childhood obesity went up by about 8 percent from 1964 to 1994. Today, it is about 20 percent - and continues to rise. Children are spending so much time watching TV, on the internet and playing video games. Activities like these are somewhat responsible for the increasing childhood obesity rate. Some kids spend up to five hours a day on these things. Eating healthy for kids this age who spend all this time in front of screens is more important than ever. If they were eating healthy it wouldn't really matter, but many of today's kids are not eating healthy.
To make things worse, kids are exposed to all kinds of television advertising for fast-food restaurants and high-fat, high-sugar snack food products. A study reported that children ages two to six who watch television are more likely to eat food items seen on TV than kids who do not subjected to these ads.
The development of Type II diabetes is a serious threat to children who are obese, especially if they have a family history of the condition. Doctors are reporting a major increase in young adults with Type II diabetes. If left untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease, stroke and, in some cases, blindness or limb amputations. Children who develop diabetes experience a diminished quality of life and shortened life span, especially if the disease goes untreated. In most cases, obesity and diabetes are preventable. One of the many benefits of eating healthy for kids is that it helps to prevent diabetese.
What is going on in your kids' life to help them stay healthy?
Most schools offer Phys-Ed (Physical Education) class to get kids to take part in physical activities and assist them in becoming active. But, these Phys-Ed classes are not all that is needed to complete their regular activity routine. Lack of funding has caused many of these courses to be cut and reduced.
Luckily, many schools now offer healthy meals that are lower in fat and incorperate healthy servings of vegetables and fruits. The most important factor is for parents to be involved. It is becoming tiresome for parents to prepare healthy meals for their kids.
It is also never easy to change eating habits, but the health benefits for children are great rewards for parents who are up to the challenge. When you are ready to look for ways to improve your kids' health and set them on their way to better and bigger things it is easier than you think to get started.
Important steps to protect your kids from the obesity problem with children:
• Put limits on the time they spend in front of the TV, on the computer
• Encourage them to play sports and do other physical activities
• Avoid eating unhealthy fast foods
• Cook healthy meals at home and encourage the kids to eat healthy foods
• Remove high sugar and high fat foods from your home
• Pack healthy lunches for your kids to take to school. Encourage them not to trade with other kids.
Once you get started on these techniques for getting kids eating healthy diets, it is hard to stop. You will find it so easy that it pays for itself.
Remain focused on giving your kids healthy meals and stay away from unhealthy sugary snackfoods. Modern research and development in the health food industry has brought us many healthy alternative to snacks that taste as good as the name brand unhealthy ones. Smart snacks with low fat and low cholesteral like chocolate and chips can help you maintain your children's diet and cure their need for a sugar fix.
Don't put your kids on an unrealistic diet. Extreme diets only produce short-term benefits. Maintain the four food groups. This is essential to eating a healthy diet. Decrease the amount of fatty foods. Eliminate sweets and snacks that contain empty calories. Try to use fruits and milk in every day applications. Nuts and cereals are also great.
Don't cut sweets out completely. Your kids will crash and feel rotten. Start by limiting the amount of sugar foods and treats and slowly ween your kids off while satisfying their sweet tooth.
Avoid using food to congratulate your kids. It can cause overeating and even eating healthy foods is bad if you eat too much. Keep questionable food items out of reach. Surround them with healthy snacks on the kitchen counter or in the fridge.
Teach your kids to enjoy healthy foods by promoting participation in food preparations. Try not to let your family eat in front the of the television as this inserts the bad eating habit of always eating whenever the television is on.
Show your children how to shop outside the home and make smart choices on what foods to buy. We all love snack foods. But by slowly decrfeasing your consumption of fast food, you can eventually liquidate it and work towards a healthier eating diet.
Highlight the value of vegetables, as kids tend to detest eating their greens and fill up on proteins. To make your kids feel less hungry have them drink a glass of water. This will get them to eat more slowly and digest better.
The involvement of your child's school doesn't stop at offering healthy food in the cafeteria and adequate physical education. Small medical sectors should be established to test pupils' cholesterol and/or glucose levels. Schools can consider screening for diabetes and heart dicease as well as measuring children's body-mass index (BMI) in public schools.
Raising public awareness of type II diabetes will counteract the problem and get the results parents concerned about their kids eating healthy need to see.
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