Obese Children - Munching To The Morgue!

Columbus, OH - There is an alarming concern that we all should have due to the increasing numbers of obese children in our community. Its one matter when were discussing what used to be primarily and adult issue of obesity; however quite another when it comes to our youth. This is a very serious issue that we cannot afford to take lightly!

According to The American Obesity Association, 30% of kids ages 6-11 are overweight and 15% are obese, setting them up for increased risk for diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. To that end, they are saying sleep apnea in children in fact may be even more prevalent in African Americans because obesity, a strong risk factor, tends to be more common in this group.

This is disturbing because the numbers have increased by more than 120 percent among African Americans as compared to 50 percent among whites within a decade. So if they are suffering with these serious health challenges at age 11, will they be around to see 30, 40 or 20 even? Likely if this continues our very own youth will be the first in the nation’s history not to live longer than their parents.

What is at the root of the problem? There are several root causes. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have conducted studies showing increase in consumption of soda and sugar-sweetened beverages as one reason. They were able to determine its precise impact on children’s body weight. Their findings over the course of the study monitored soda, Hawaiian punch, lemonade, koolaid or other sweetened fruit drinks as well as iced tea; all of which are culprits of obesity.

Some other causes for such an explosion of childhood obesity is the lack of physical activity, lack of parental guidance in this area, changes in what the schools are offering our kids for lunch with easily accessible vending machines, and of course eating too much fast food. They are not active enough during the day because a lot of the required physical education programs are being cut out, thus decreasing the amount of activity.

Despite these facts, we are not powerless. What can we do?

1) We can make sure our children eat a nutritious breakfast before going to school so their bodies are not in starvation mode making them more prone to eat junk.

2) We can have them pack a lunch from home, opposed to buying lunch at school.

3) We can have them engage in at least 1 hour of physical activity daily such as walking or running.

4) Get them involved in a program. There are some wonderful national and local organizations that are on a mission to educate the parents in the community on how they can to do their part in reversing this trend. Body Sculpt of New York Inc. is one such non-profit organization whose purpose is to educate the family about obesity and to offer healthy lifestyle alternatives. They are particularly encouraging this through fitness and nutrition. This organization and others like these should be lauded and applauded for the work that they are doing for our community!

5) We can up the ante by being a role model for the children. Children do as we do, not as we say. So we teach them healthy eating habits by the way we eat and the way we live.

Very often, unhealthy eating habits are passed down generation to generation. However, this generation is in much more trouble than any of us could have predicted and thus cannot afford not to make changes. So our overall goal should be to help the whole family stop, think and really focus on making healthy changes to eating and activity habits that will last for a lifetime!