Earlier this month, in part one of this article, I wrote about the alarming new childhood obesity statistics where, according to recent reports; children born after the year 2000 are not expected to outlive their parents! We are witnessing the start of an epidemic and guess what parents? It's your fault! Well actually, it's all our faults.
We are becoming a fast-food nation of couch potatoes and that lifestyle has rubbed off on our children.
In my clinical practice, I have found that obese children tend to come from obese families.
Now, some healthcare professionals may immediately point to genetics and claim that these children are just a product of a yet-to-be-identified obesity gene.
However, in my experience, overweight children tend to share the same dietary, exercise and lifestyle habits as the rest of their family.
After all, I have yet to meet an eight year old who does the grocery shopping! The solution is a simple one: parents need to set the example by adopting a healthy lifestyle themselves.
Since children learn by example, a child's level of physical fitness is going to be directly proportional to their parents' attitudes and physical lifestyle.
For example, the average child watches 3 hours of TV everyday and the average adult watches; you guessed it, 3 hours of TV everyday! Let's be clear here: If you eat junk food, so will your children.
If you don't value exercise and physical activity, neither will your child.
It's that simple.
A call to arms, parents! Turn off the computer/TV/video games and get outside.
Plan a family day out in the park.
Take a bike ride with your kids.
Plan your grocery shopping and meal preparation in advance.
Stop eating out every night and start preparing healthy meals at home.
Not only will you and your children become healthier, but you will be spending quality time together as well.
After all, your child's health depends on it!