Obesity - How to Prevent Childhood Obesity!

Over worked and stressed out mothers all across the world seem to be settling for convenience over quality. After a grueling day at the office, its easier to pick up something from the local take away shop rather than spend the precious few hours you have left of the day too cook a wholesome meal.

Switching on “the box” and letting the kids veg out seems a much easier alternative to watching little Johnny climb up the tree. In today’s fast paced world, obesity is growing at a very alarming rate and how to prevent childhood obesity seems to be a hot topic.

Childhood obesity is a major problem that most of the developed countries are facing today. It has alarmed the whole world and frightfully, if not cured during childhood, will result in your child being overweight throughout his or her adult years. This may also result in a number of serious diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. So, prevention in this instance proves to be much better than cure.

Lets face it, kids can be incredibly honest and extremely cruel. Chances are if you are overweight, you will not only be the last one picked for the team, you will also find it harder to make friends are will more likely be shut out socially. For the parent of the obese child, it is heartbreaking to witness your kid being tormented and teased, but, if we are to prevent childhood obesity, a firm, consistent routine needs to be implemented with both parent and child coming to the party.

Due to our own eating habits, lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle, our children are now suffering the consequences. Our generation has the biggest amount of obese children and the numbers are increasing rapidly on a daily basis. In order to try and eradicate this problem, parents need to start early and lead by example.

It is not fair for you to munch away on all the forbidden goodies while your child is preached to about healthy eating. As a parent and role model your main goal should be to cultivate proper eating habits.

Your child’s diet should be well balanced with three meals a day as the standard. Unhealthy, processed snacks and treats need to be kept to a bare minimum and in best-case scenario, eradicated. Offer fruits and healthy snack alternatives instead. Also, as a rule, never skip breakfast, it is the most important meal of the day and enables the regulation of metabolism as well as blood sugar levels.

It’s all good and well to promote healthy eating but it is also vital for children to be active. To prevent childhood obesity, physical activity is another key ingredient. With the progression of modern technology, sadly, our children have become lazy and gone are the days of outside cricket matches with the neighbourhood kids or playing hide and seek until mom comes to call you.

The “play” of choice today is X box, television, cellphones and Internet. Not only do these gadgets fry your child’s developing brain but promote inactivity. Parents need to take a firm stance and limit “gadgets”. Make it a habit to spend at least an hour doing a fun physical activity and get them interested and involved in sport.

Not only will it keep them out of trouble but will help to prevent childhood obesity! We love all our children and want the best for them. By promoting healthy active lifestyles, hopefully all parents can do their bit to prevent childhood obesity.

Antonie Konig is an author interested in natural health and well being. I firmly believe that 90% of all our health problems are diet related. I maintain an active and updated health blog where I prefer to focus on natural cures - Libido and Health. Learn about the health and weight benefits of keeping a journal, read more here!

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