Recent research shows that childhood obesity doubled in a fifteen year period of time. The implications of this are astonishing, and yet few people seem alarmed.
How did this happen?
1. Our kids spend more time sitting on their rear ends.
While there is certainly a portion of the culture that promotes high levels of activity for children, there is a huge portion of children who spend a good deal of their childhood watching TV, playing video games, and sitting on the sofa. As they get a little older, they progress to the computer.
Contrary to years passed, we find fewer neighborhoods where children simply are told to go out and play, and they hook up with their friends and then they start moving. They would play ball, play chase, ride their bicycles or in some way be engaged in activity - even if they weren't an athlete.
Solution: Parents need to set firm limits on the amount of sedentary activity (TV, video and computer time).
If children are left to their own devices, they will likely choose the path that is easier. The easy path tends to be one that is more sedentary, and does not require exertion.
We must lead our children in a healthy direction. They certainly can't know this on their own. It's our job to set limits.
2. Massive consumption of simple carbohydrates and processed foods.
Today's youth eat more fast food, prepared out of a jar or can, than any group of children in history. They eat out at fast food restaurants more often, and their dietary intake is full of simple carbohydrates and fats.
Add to this the fact that advertisers get more exposure to those same children, who are sitting on the sofa watching TV, and thus they have more influence over what they are interested in.
We don't need some doctor, your pediatrician, or an expert on Oprah to tell you that there is a problem here. Just walk into schools and look at the children. We see the effect of this obesity. It's time to say no to the junk food, and take action in a healthy consistent direction.
3. We seek to accommodate our children too much.
For some reason, as a culture we have decided that we can't upset our kids. If they throw a tantrum because they don't get the food they want, and say that they're going to refuse to eat, we cave in and fix them pizza and French fries. If we tell them that we're not going to stop at McDonald's, and they start to throw a tantrum in the car, we turn around and give them McDonald's so that we don't have to put up with their upset. We tell them that there is going to be a limit on their TV time, and they go to their room and won't speak to us for a few hours, we think that we need to make a change so that they'll be happy with us.
No! Our children do not know what is best for them. If this were true, there would be no need for parents. Nature designed the universe in a way that parents are there to serve as a guide, to make critical decisions from their life experience about what is right and what is wrong.
Bottom line: it's our job to set limits, and to say no t this unhealthy life style. If we don't do it, we are responsible for the devastating consequences.
What are the devastating consequences?
With the rate of obesity in children escalating, the consequences for our youth are astounding. It will be the first generation of children who will not outlive their parents. It simply can't happen. The number of medical difficulties that emerge from habits like this cannot be overcome with science alone.
Secondly, we will go bankrupt through our efforts to provide health care. Obesity creates more expense for the medical system, than any other general category of medical issues that we create.
It's also an area where we have complete responsibility. With responsible action as a parent, we can eliminate this tragic outcome for our children and the demand upon our healthcare system.
The richness of their life is depleted unfairly.
Obesity brings with it a reduction in the quality of life. One could try to argue with this, but it's impossible to deny. Whether it's riding your bicycle all day with the children, hiking to the top of a mountain, canoeing on a lake, or playing in a pick up game with your teenager at the local YMCA, most of these experiences are not available for enjoyment by obese adults. There is a richness that comes through movement and an activity. There is also the opportunity to experience nature's beauty in remote locations that require physical agility and some degree of being in shape.
As the years go by, medical symptoms complicate life. You have trouble keeping up with your grandchild. He can't participate in the walk for the cure. You're embarrassed to go to the swimming pool. And the list goes on.
So let's wake up and do something. This is an epidemic that we can change, through taking responsible action as parents. Set limits on how much TV and video time your kid's experience. Eliminate trips to McDonald's, and purge your house of simple carbohydrates. Get involved in any kind of physical activity, such as biking or hiking or swimming... or join any of the various sporting opportunities that require you and your children to be engaged in movement. You'll actually not only prolong your own life and expand the pleasure that you have, but you'll be giving this gift to your children.
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