Children and obesity: today’s parents have a longer life expectancy than their children

Today’s generation is the first generation in the history of the United States not expected to outlive their parents. The main reason: obesity. Doctors are concerned about childhood obesity because it can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and sleep apnea. Unfortunately, social isolation and discrimination can also be a result for the obese child. Although obesity may be related to a person’s genetic makeup, there are important behaviors that are within our control that can reduce the likelihood of excessive weight gain. So what can parents do to protect their children from the dangers of childhood obesity?

Limit passive entertainment from television, the Internet, and video games. Which is the magic number? Two hours per day or less.

Rarely give your children sugary sweets or high-fat treats. You should never allow your children to eat sugary sweets or soft drinks on a daily basis. Our kids only get sugary treats maybe once a week or twice a month. And, as a result, they don’t crave them or harass us for them. Healthy snacks include bananas, carrots, figs, grapes, and other fruits. Fruit juices also contain a lot of sugar. Mix water with about 1/6 organic fruit juice. This will keep your kids hydrated, keep calories low, and still give them some flavor and vitamin C. Of course, it’s even better if you can juice the fruit yourself.

Make them move! It doesn’t necessarily have to involve expensive gym classes, structured swimming lessons, or an overly scheduled lifestyle. Do you remember when you were a child? Most of us spend a good part of our childhood entertaining ourselves by running around the neighborhood playing games. We weren’t thinking about exercising, we were just doing it. Chase your kids around the yard or go for an evening walk with the family. Just make sure they move their bodies every day.

Eat at home. One of the main reasons to eat at home that many people may ignore is the fact that you can control the cleanliness of your food. A friend of mine who worked in a four-star restaurant came into work one day with the flu. When I asked him why he would come in and handle the food, he said he would not be paid and might even be fired for missing a busy weekend shift. But when it comes to obesity, portion control is the number one reason to eat at home. Today’s dish in the average American restaurant was yesterday’s dish that fed an entire family.

Hide the vegetables. With children, especially picky toddlers and preschoolers, you can incorporate vegetables into their diets by making their food fun. For example, you can turn a salad into a cartoon face or a plate of whole-grain pancakes into a clown face with strategically placed berries. Also, make a list of your favorite dishes and think of creative ways to make them healthier.

With collective education and effort, we can reverse the dire prediction about the longevity of the youngest among us and help make them the healthiest generation that ever lived. It is up to us to protect our children.