Childhood Obesity Takes a Toll

Type 2 diabetes, considered primarily to be an “adult” disease, is also affecting more children from the last several years. This is due to an abnormal increase in weight. Kids are becoming more inactive and eating more junk food than ever before. With the arrival of handheld electronic games, computers and ever more available television channels, children have more reason to stay inside and sit for long periods of time. With these habits kids are at risk for developing other adult conditions such as high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels.

Here are some ways to help your child stay healthy:

Childhood, Unleashed

Parents can educate their kids about maintaining healthy weights by limiting video games and television time to an hour or two a day. Creating opportunities to have fun without electronic diversions can be a family undertaking. Dancing to music or working with art supplies are also other interesting ways to make your child busy. Let kids earn their TV time. Create a home rule, for every minute they play outside, they can watch one minute of television. So steps like these will definitely help them staying fit.

Give Them a Sporting Chance

It will be very encouraging for your kids if whole of your family can participate in any sports which your kids like. Some kids afraid of participating in any sport event just because of the fact that they are over weight. They might feel that they won’t be able to keep up, or that they’ll let the team down. Individual sports event such as martial arts or swimming might be good choices for building a child’s confidence.

Chores Make the Grade

Another way to make your kids active is to involve them in Household chores. Raking leaves, folding laundry, caring for pets, or helping with the dishes are just a few of the ways kids can assist around the house. Chores are a very good option because kids realize they’re part of the family and it’s their responsibility now; it really does help busy parents accomplish more on a daily basis. Most significantly, it gets kids up and moving. It’s a win win situation.

Healthy Snacks Go the Distance

Offering nutritious snacks such as fresh fruit, cut up vegetables, or low fat yogurt can help kids learn good eating habits. Making more meals at home, or packing healthful lunches or snacks for when you’re on the go, will help cut the calories that fast food adds. A bag of apples may have more price than a bag of cookies, but the apple is full of vitamins, nutrients and fiber, which in the long run gives more value for money by providing more of the things a growing child needs.

Healthy Choices

Keeping your family health a priority will teach kids learn to always make the right choices now and later at an elder stage. Parents hold the key to teaching their kids about living a healthy lifestyle. Doing it together makes everyone a part of it. And it’s more fun when everybody is on the same track. Taming the wave of adult diseases at right time is just one of the many benefits of healthy living. Don’t forget good health can last a lifetime.