The obesity in children is now at an alarming rate in many developed countries.In the United States and Australia one in three children are considered to have a weight problem.
Many of these children are under 6 years of age and a lifetime trend has set in already.This health issueof obesity in children is,as we know, attributed to fast food,sedentary life style in front of the TV and the issues of child safety which in today’s world does not give the child the freedom of movement without supervision. In the old days a child could walk to shcool unacompanied or ride their bikes without fear of interference or even abduction and so the world has changed and is a factor in the obsetiy of children.
Just how much Telelvison to children watch today? There are estimates as high as 5 hours and if you add to that computer use you have the electronic child of the 21st century who sits in fixed position with the only movement being their right hand to manage the control to select a program or an internet connection.
One terrifying study in obesity in children has predicted that cardiovascular diseases in the adult of the child today will increase dramatically. High blood pressure,type two diabetes,are on a dramatic rising curve with evidence showing that 75% of children overweight at 10 years of age will be obese or morbidly obese as adults.
Tips for parents
You can be a posistive example. If you as the parent live the sedentary lifestyle then dont expect much different from your children. Children learn from watching not from being told. So a family that goes outdoors and plays is a great teaching for any child as they grow up.
Give them active toys and equipment, and take them to places where they can be active.
Are you an encourager by giving positive reinforcement for any of your child’s action activities? This is not about "you must win" type encouragement but "its fun to particpate" sort of encouragement.
The parent who is locked into the win model for their children do not serve them well and can even create resentment towards physical activity where the child always feels they are not good enoght.So make any physical activity fun.
How about some controls on the time your child spends in front of the TV? This is one simple method to help your child want to explor other ways of spending time. The child who is left theie own resources after school and on weekends will auto gratitate to the TV and computer. So put some rules in place and monitor them with rewards and some losses if they are not followed.
Lastly and most important of all is to provide the sort of outdoor equipement that is fun and exciting where children just love to work out on . Outdoor playhouses. the old fashioned tree house where the imagination of the child can be let loose.Inflatable slides and castles for the youngest children,swings and monkeybars. Yes there some costs but not nearly as much as the cost os the overweight child who becomes the obese adult
Leonard Greenhall copyright 2010
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