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Surgeon General's Plea for Battling
Childhood Obesity
When the
Surgeon General makes a statement about issues that can be a serious
detriment to our health, smart people pay attention, so take heed to the
Surgeon General's plea for battling childhood obesity, young lives, and
the stability of our country are at stake. The prevalence of childhood
obesity has steadily increased at a rate of close to three times the
rate it was when we began closely tracking the obesity rates in children
a mere twenty years ago, and obese children lucky enough to survive the
effects of obesity into adulthood are prime candidates for dropping dead
from massive heart attacks at any moment. They are also primed to
experience the suffering that results from the debilitating and often
painful physical and emotional symptoms and effects associated with
other severe illnesses and diseases.
The health
and fitness professionals responsible for bringing the important
information contained here to you are not doing it to generate a higher
influx of business for themselves; they are making this available
because they want to educate as many people as possible about the
prevalence and dangers of childhood obesity, and to offer sensible
insight into what to do about it. Taking the stance that experts are
blowing this issue way out of proportion and that it will correct itself
in time, ensures that the problem will only get bigger and more
dangerous.
Poor
dietary choices and a culture that promotes inactivity above active
lifestyles are the main reasons why childhood obesity has reached such a
high level in America. Children are watching television or playing video
games when they should be running around outdoors getting exercise and
participating in sports. They are not alone in choosing sedentary
activities over the active ones that go a long ways towards promoting
optimal health and fitness.
Childhood
obesity is definitely a dire situation that needs our immediate
attention and focus. There are several pragmatic solutions for fixing
this problem before it gets any worse. The reversal of this alarming
trend of childhood obesity in America will not happen overnight. Quick
fixes are worthless to even attempt and often place a child and their
health at an even greater risk.
Every child
deserves love unconditionally. Never try to shame a child affected by
obesity into dieting or starting an exercise program. Make small changes
that the entire family should participate in because good health is
important for all of you. Find healthy alternatives for the unhealthy
foods that many children like and crave. Get children involved in making
healthier food choices even if this means signing up for a class on
proper nutrition.
Find
physical activities and team sports that appeal to children and show
your support by getting involved. Coach, referee, provide healthy snacks
and beverages for players, and cheer all the children on to better
health. Organize a family or neighborhood children and parent's bike
ride or hike. Fly kites or challenge each other with laps in the pool.
Make it more fun to be active than the inactivity that our children have
become accustomed to with the multitude of TV, video, and gaming
activities available to them.
If you are
concerned that your child may suffer from obesity, medical and health
professionals are the most reliable determiners of whether your child is
clinically obese. Referring to standard age, height, and weight charts
can help parents decide that it is time to consult with a professional
about their child's obesity risks and health. However it doesn't take a
professional to determine if your child needs to lose a few pounds. If
your child is overweight, don't wait before it's out of control to take
action.
There is
urgency in dealing with childhood obesity starting today. If we do not
help children to reverse or avoid obesity, lives will be devastated and
even lost as a result, heed the Surgeon General's plea for battling
childhood obesity so that all of our tomorrows can be brighter and
healthier.
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