Childhood obesity is no longer just an epidemic. It has become a pandemic meaning that its a worldwide problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Obesity puts our children at risk for developing devastating diseases throughout their lives. For example, Type II diabetes, formerly just an adult problem – is now seen in children. Multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease are already being seen in young children. In other words, as they grow up, overweight children are inviting the onset of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Sadly, recent statistics show that for the first time this generation of children may have a shorter lifespan than their parents.
So with all of these pressing issues at hand, what can we do to influence the behavior of our children in subtle but positive ways?
Kids’ lifestyles today are significantly different than they were just a generation ago. Families are constantly on the go, making food choices based on convenience rather than nutrition. I see this everyday with my own nieces and nephews. Soda is a prime example. Half of all kids drink at least one soft drink daily, containing up to 200 calories and 20 teaspoons of sugar. And even more shocking, many teenagers will drink as many as 12 cans of those drinks in a single day. That’s hundreds if not thousands of empty calories and a massive in-take of sugar.
Fruit juices do sound like they should be healthy, and many do have large amounts of disease-fighting anti-oxidants. But the trouble is that they are also loaded with calories and sugar. That is simply not going to help a child maintain a healthy weight.
A simple first step is to reduce the amount of soda and juice your child drinks everyday. Provide a healthy, low sugar alternative that does NOT contain any artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners for example.
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