What Kids Think About Childhood Obesity
Nowadays, adults are getting worried with the rising numbers of overweight kids. Kids know it also. In a KidsPoll, 1,168 boys and girls were asked on the issue and it was found out that 52% of them agreed that there are too many overweight kids.
“This is important because knowing there is a problem is the first step to getting answers to solve the problem,” says Dr. Sandra Hassink. Dr. Hassink is a doctor in Delaware who has been helping kids resolve their weight problems. So, read on to find out more about the issue on childhood weight problems.
Why Girls Should Play Sports
Gone are the days when girls used to sit in the corner or on the benches and watch boys play their favorite sport. Nowadays, girls are playing sports too. Compared to boys, some girls are even excelling in sports.
Other than exercising and having fun, girls should play sports for other reasons too. In fact, the Women’s Sports Foundation also said that girls who play sports become fit and healthier. Here are 5 other reasons why girls should play sports:
New Program Tackles Childhood Obesity in Tween Boys
One of the most at-risk groups for childhood obesity and early onset diabetes is “tween” boys between the ages of roughly 9-13. The problem can be quantified by analyzing the habits of boys in this range: they have passed the ages where imagination and outside play peaks and oftentimes their metabolisms have not yet started climbing towards their teen year peaks. On top of that, they seem to have an affinity for video games or television and high-calorie foods like sodas and sweets. This tremendously increases their chances of struggling with early onset obesity.
However, there is hope for tween boys in managing the increased risks of these “awkward years” and making sure that they remain healthy and happy into their teens. Meet Dr. Eileen Kennedy, a pediatric psychologist who works with a new program called Fit Youth which is based at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. Since 2005, Kennedy has directly helped 211 families with kids ages 7 to 16 who were struggling with childhood obesity. The Fit Youth program only accepts children with BMIs for age in the 95th percentile and above, meaning that out of a group of 100 kids they would only accept the 5 children who were heaviest for their height.
Weight Loss Franchises Say Exercise May not Help
5-foot-2-inch tall, Tiffany Holtz from Greenville, is a workaholic real estate agent. But she also works hard with meals. In short, she grabs too many meals on the go between clients.
But she has good news though for herself, family and friends. From being a size 20 weighing 240 pounds, she dropped down to becoming a size 4. “That (lifestyle) was really what led me to this point,” Holtz said. “I just let life spiral out of control on me.”
Back to School Healthy Student Tips
School demands a lot from students. Homework, school projects, extra co-curricular activities, examinations and others keep students busy and exhausted. Since it’s a must for students to learn in school, they should eat and live healthy.
- Breakfast is a must because it provides energy for the brain so they continue learning in school. Second, breakfast helps them maintain a healthy weight. So, do insist your children to eat breakfast and never miss one every day.
- Snacking can be healthy. Just don’t overeat and do not rely on greasy, unhealthy fast food types of snacks. Ensure that you have nutritious foods (e.g. veggies, fruits, cheese sticks, low-fat yogurt, butter-free popcorn, etc.) at home so your children can easily munch on their healthy snacks.
Girls Entering Puberty Earlier May be Linked to Childhood Obesity
Though girls may come to the physical examination feeling self conscious, their mothers should be more concerned. There are some young girls who are barely in grade school displaying first signs of puberty. According to a study in the journal Pediatrics, girls reaching puberty early are more common now, then a decade ago.
Researchers have found that at age of 7, 10% and 23% of white and black girls respectively are having budding breasts. Comparatively to a study in 1997, it was 5% ad 15% respectively. Lore Nelson, a specialist in adolescent medicine, at the University of Kansas Hospital, said these finding confirm what many doctors have seen in their practices for years. The researchers believe that a main cause of early puberty in girls could be because of childhood obesity- one in five U.S children is obese. Children have too much access to junk food at home, in fast food restaurants and in school vending machines .
The First Lady’s “Let’s Move” Project Promotion at the NAACP Convention
During the 101st National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Convention in Kansas City, Mo., First Lady Michelle Obama strongly promoted her “Let’s Move” project. Thousands were there to hear her speak about childhood obesity, eating healthy and proper exercise. Moreover, it was a great opportunity for her to talk on the project and of what it can do for our children and the communities we live in as well.
The First Lady believes that children need basic nutrition to learn and do more. “See, we can build our kids the best schools on earth, but if they don’t have the basic nutrition they need to concentrate, they’re still going to have a challenge learning. And we can create the best jobs in the world — we must — but that won’t mean that folks will have the energy and the stamina to actually do those jobs,” Mrs. Obama said.
Inactivity Does Not Lead to Childhood Obesity
Obesity may lead to inactivity, but inactivity does not lead to obesity, says a new study. While it is a widely belief that a contributing factor to obesity is inactivity among children, Early Bird Diabetes study suggest otherwise, that decreased physical action or movement may actually be an indicator of fatness. Early Bird is based at the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, UK, and has been observing city school children for the past 11 years. And the question exclusively placed to them is – which comes first?
It is well known that less active children are fatter, but that does not mean – as most people presume it does – that inactivity leads to obesity. It could equally well be the other way round: that obesity leads to inactivity. The finding which appeared in the Archives of Disease in Childhood and highlighted by the BBC showed that physical activity had no impact on weight change, but more weight clearly led to less activity.
Legislators Shows a Double Thumbs Up for the Schools’ Nutrition Bill
The Massachusetts Legislature which bans the selling of unhealthy foods and drinks in Massachusetts public school has already been passed. The bill constitutes the various nutritional vending guidelines which will be developed by the Department of Public Health. Additionally, it also institutes the standards for products sold in vending machines, school stores and cafeteria a la carte lines.
Other than the nutritional guidelines and the standards, the bill also imposes for school districts to establish school vending wellness and advisory committees who are tasked to create a district-wide wellness policy. Nutrition and exercise are also imposed to be included as one of the school subjects. Even the Department of Agriculture is tasked to collect data that aids both the local farms and public schools as they work hand in hand; and as a result, the residents of Massachusetts will only be purchasing the products that are grown and harvested in Massachusetts.
Reasons You’re Not Losing the Last 10 Pounds
The White House declared a new threat to America’s health and security, on May 11. The threat was not a terrorist based or a disease but actually a class of chemicals that is making people obese. These chemicals are called EDC (endocrine disrupting chemicals) and it’s very likely that you may be consuming them, either by drinking or eating.
“Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity within a Generation” a report by the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity was released. The report has highlighted on EDC being the main cause of rising obesity in the country. Scientists have described these chemicals as obesogens because they help weight gain and obesity.