Fighting Childhood Obesity

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:33 Written by Judge Glenda Hatchett

“Let’s Move!” exclaims First Lady, Michelle Obama. Our nation has launched an initiative to eradicate obesity in children due to inactivity and poor eating habits. Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges facing the 21st century and not enough of us are paying serious attention. Obesity increases a child’s risk for health problems that are normally associated with adulthood, such as diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and gastro- intestinal disease. Add to this, social isolation and psychological problems and childhood becomes a minefield for the obese child. A responsible parent would never fed their child “to death,” but that is exactly what may be happening when parents provide fast food, processed meals and sweets, while offering very little fruits and vegetables.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO SAVE THE LIFE OF SOMEONE YOU LOVE?

The good news is that childhood obesity can be avoided or even reversed in some cases with the encouragement and involvement of parents who are equipped with helpful and practical information. We have to begin with an honest answer to the question: Is my child obese? and not live in a place of denial. We can not solve the problem of childhood obesity until we get real and truly recognize whether we have a problem. Wishing it to be different doesn’t make it so. So let’s not turn a blind eye and justify feeding our children to death by saying that ‘he just has baby fat’ or ‘she will out grow it’ or ‘she is over weight because it runs in our family – honey have you seen our grandmother’s thighs?’. Wake up - get real about our reality. Our children are depending on us to provide safe passage from here to their adulthood on all levels, including their physical well being. Just saying it is baby fat is not a solution.

Okay parents keeping it really real - If any of us are suffering from obesity, then we have to make it a priority to get healthy and model healthy behavior for our children. As I have said so many times before, it is not about weight it is about living. My son put me in check this morning when he called and asked if I had started my day in the gym - the truth is that I was sitting at my desk working on my computer in my sweat pants with every good intention of going to the gym. Good intentions are not good enough. I have to move and I have to be healthy for me and for my family. I only have this one body and I must treat it with respect and care.

We need to substitute healthy choices for foods that fail to provide the nutritional needs of our families. A piece of fruit instead of a candy bar, some popsicles that you made at home with natural fruit juice… As a working busy parent I have certainly done my share of fast foods for my kids. I get that, but as often as possible, let us promote healthy eating habits by preparing meals as a family it is a win /win because it builds stronger family communications and relationships while making healthy dinner choices. Think about how much goes on concerning your family when you all are in the kitchen. Great teachable moments to talk about nutrition and very importantly to talk about what is going on in the lives of our children. We need to know what they are doing and what they are thinking. Think back – didn’t some of your most favorite memories as a kid involve times you spent in the kitchen with your family, perhaps at your grandmother’s table?

Parents, we must take the initiative and save our children from this growing obesity epidemic. Our children are all we have with which to build a new generation of men and women and so we must teach them the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for a life time. Let’s take a stand today and pledge that we will evict obesity from our households and welcome healthy food choices, physical activity, and wellness into our lives.

We can win this fight against childhood obesity! It may save the live of someone you love.

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Live on Purpose

Parents need to teach their children how to live on purpose, and become servants of their community. Changing the mindset of our children will keep them active in the community. Our communities need to become outside village children instead of inside village children.

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It's vital that parents, grandparents introduce healthy-foods into our childrens lives. We can be great cooks, preparing the best entrees yet, are our meals health-appealing? I encourage "us" to feed our families nourishing foods,( vegetables, fruits,etc), and let the children be aware of the dangers of over-eating. There's a time to push-away from the table and exercise daily!

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Fighting Childhood Obesity