Obesity in Children

Children can be very cruel, and any child that is different is a target. The most frequent target is actually those children who are overweight. How did they get that way? I think we all have had a hand in it. Here are a few suggestions that could change the way our children look at weight:

• Parental Responsibility - we as parents must take a large part for the responsibility for our children being overweight. Most of us are working either full or part-time so finding the time to make up a healthy packed lunch and meals will not be easy, but it can be done. We just need to be organized

• School lunches - look at the menu for the school and if you are not happy about it being healthy enough, contact the school board about improving the quality of the food

• Fast food and kids - as in the above - this is down to you whether you allow your children to eat fries instead of an apple slice. Keep the fast food down to a minimum.

• Advertising and fast food - Fast food places are good at advertising so maybe keep any visits as a treat once in a while but not the norm’

• Exercise at School - Many schools now have gym classes as elective rather than a requirement. If your child’s school is one of them visit or write to the local school board

• Teaching nutrition - Sorry but this begins at home! You are your child’s first and best teacher and while it’s important that schools cover the topic of nutrition, it’s up to us to make sure our children truly understand …and learn to enjoy…good, healthy food

• Finally - lead by example! If you eat right and exercise your children are more likely to do the same things and you could be setting up a lifelong habit

However as parents, although we are responsible for our children’s eating habits, we do still need community support rather than community censor.

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