Studies have proven that more that one in every four children that is examined by a health professional is either obese, or possesses a great deal of risk for becoming obese.
What can we do to help the youth at risk? Many people don't realize that when they remain significantly overweight, they pose risk for more than 10 serious and possibly fatal diseases.
2006-10-13 04:36:26 · 9 answers · asked by palxtreaux 2 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
The thing is - we need to be realistic. Fast food restaurants are never going to go away, and parents can only prevent their child for so long. I know of mnay children that were not allowed to consume fast food, but did it every chance they got when their parents were oblivious.
2006-10-13 04:40:30 · update #1
Also, we can't always force the youth to get away from the TV, go outside and exercise. There are also parents that won't force their child to do that either. Many parents say that schools need to do this and do that, but they think that the proposal stops at 3pm, and they don't have to worry about anything. "Since the schools can take care of it." Many parents, especially parents that are also overweight will not force their child to do something "just to be skinny", the thing is, many parents feel as if their child does not need to lose weight because they feel as if they would be catering to society's ideals.
2006-10-13 04:51:31 · update #2
Watch the movie, "Super Size Me".
They have great ways to help. Sure the movie bags on fast food ... but it also has many necessary and realistic ways to make children's diets better.
One of the most fascinating segment in the movie was when they visited a "Alternative School" for children with stuff like ADHD & other behavior prob's ... The students weren't running around like maniac's and the movie suggested it's because of the "Fresh Caffeteria Food". This school feed vegtables, fruits, and fresh meat. Then they went to a public school where hamburgars, hot dogs, and other "Government Food" was being served. Those kids were a mess!!!
In short I like the movie's suggestions:
1. Good food at school.
2. More exercise classes.
3. Remove vending machiens from school.
2006-10-13 04:47:08 · answer #1 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a high school student so I have seen first hand this phenomenon. I have a few suggestions.
For society: No soda machines in school. Replace them with bottled water machines. Put PE back in elementary school as a full time class. Make the importance of it a priority. Launch a grass roots awareness program to parents on nutrition.
For the individual: When having fast food, try to make it occassional and always skip the fries. Reduce the amount of soda you drink. Make drinking soda an occassional treat. Keep celery, carrots and popcorn around for snacks. Read labels before you eat. Join sports teams early. Walk to school with your friends. Ride bikes, skateboards, play basketball. When you are young go to the park everyday and go completely hog wild. Dance. If you enjoy T.V. and/or computer only do it in the evening after being outside playing, hanging with friends whatever. And, don't eat the whole time you are in front of the T.V. Chew gum instead of eating a bag of chips.
And parents try to set a good example by knowing nutrition and taking your kids to sports or the park or an activity.
2006-10-13 04:52:38 · answer #2 · answered by BParker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's fair to blame the fast food restaurants. You have a choices as to whether or not you go there. Plus, most restaurants now offer healthier options. If McDonald's sells apples, but you still order fries, that's your fault- not theirs. And, yes, not allowing the children to eat at such establishments (when "everyone's doing it..."), will cause them to want it even more. It is the parents' job to teach the children to make good choices and practice self control. The problem is that most parents DON'T make the time to do this, or don't know themselves...
I think the best prevention would be offering healthier meal and snack choices in schools and increased awareness. But, don't criticize the overweight children, as that can aggravate the problem. Just teach it in health class, teach them the consequences of diets high in refined sugars AND what a refined sugar is... Teach them not only that trans and saturated fats are bad, but what they are and what they are found in. Kids always want to know "WHY" and if you don't tell them why they need to eat healthy, they aren't interested.
Another great way to help the children is by being a good example, and finding ways to make healthier foods more fun. Instead of ordering a fat-drenched pizza from Pizza Hut (by the way, ONE slice of pepperoni stuffed crust pizza has OVER 40g of fat), make pizza at home. Use the Weight Watchers pizza dough recipe, use a no-sugar-added spaghetti sauce (like Ragu), use turkey pepperoni or veggie pepperoni and load it with fresh veggies- mushrooms, artichoke hearts, peppers, tomatoes, onion, olives, etc- and sprinkle with soy or 2% milk cheese... Don't get all concerned about messes and germs- just have them wash their hands and let them do it their way. That will make eating healthier more exciting than going out.
Another thing is to turn off the TV. My family used to designate a day that we unplugged the TV each week. That night, instead of watching CSI reruns or whatever, we would play Monopoly together. Spend more time as a family, spend more time being active, and spend more time being active as a family- go to a Nature center and walk together, for example. This is especially important in a family with an obese child. The child needs to feel that this is an "everyone" thing- not feel singled out and forced into dieting- as that can lead to lifelong struggles with food issues. It took most of their life to get out of shape, and it will take a while to get back in... Be patient and understanding, and remember that you are their parent, not their drill sargeant. More than anything, they need to know that your love is behind them, no matter what they weigh... ♥
2006-10-13 05:06:24 · answer #3 · answered by ♥ Butterfly ♥ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first thing that needs to be done is limiting the amount of time they spend sitting on their butts playing video or computer games. It's absolutely ridiculous. They are getting fatter every year because they are allowed to be lazy. As a mother of five I don't allow my children to sit on their butts doing nothing all day.
2006-10-13 04:41:30 · answer #4 · answered by Laura D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get these kids out from in front of the TV's, video games and computers. Make them go outside and play like we did when we were kids. Also keep them away from processed foods. Any fast food is processed - it's pure fat, cholesterol and transfats. Feed your kids fresh raw veggies. If you start them at an early age, they will like them growing up. Both of my kids love all veggies, and salads are one of their faves. I started feeding my kids salads before they were even 2 years old. Exercise them and feed them healthy - that is the answer.
2006-10-13 04:47:27 · answer #5 · answered by missychele 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is an easy one... LEAD BY EXAMPLE. Children do not develop good habits if they are not exposed to it. Honest, realistic positive examples. Noone can change anything in the world without first changing themselves.
:)
2006-10-13 05:30:11 · answer #6 · answered by greenangel83 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
maybe people shoulnt eat fats every day and schools could get rid of obesity problems as a matter of fact they did that to elementry schools.
2006-10-13 04:40:10 · answer #7 · answered by Im the best 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
send all teenagers to co educational institutes
2006-10-13 04:42:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
stop feeding them mcdonalds and crap like that
2006-10-13 04:38:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋