Monday, June 12, 2006

overweight children

It's bad enough when we don't take care of ourselves by eating in a way that will guarantee a healthier life, let alone, show a bad example for our children. I don't like taking the blame for any extra poundage my children carry on them but I do remember when my first child was born. Upon a few visits to the doctors for his baby shots I was told to alter his formula by adding some extra boiled water.

The incidence of childhood obesity had tripled in the past two decades. When children weigh more than they should it can lead to a variety of serious health consequences, being obese and showing signs of disease, and emotional consequences as they grow. Obese children and teens suffer so much emotionally and socially that their quality of life compares with that of childhood cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Overweight kids may also turn into chronic dieters or develop eating disorders. Leann Birch, PhD. had found that unwittingly, parents-- through how they act, what they say, and even their own diet struggles-- can subvert their own good intentions.

Check out a book at the library and read up on the suggestions she has for helping your child at an early age. If you can't find anything leave a comment, I will try to furnish some more information.

How ironic that I don't remember being an overweight child but I do remember gaining weight when I was with child, after child, after child, after child.

I wonder why food has a connotation of love to a lot of people. No one escapes the affects of eating more food than our body needs, including men, women, children, and even our pets.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am currently trying to lose weight..I was not an overweight child or even an over weight teenager. I gained weight after my 2nd and 3rd kids..
Thankfully, my kids aren't overweight, and I don't buy a lot of junk. We rarely have chips or snack cakes at our house. We do buy ice cream, but we eat it in moderation.

Oh, regarding your comment on my blog..well my mother in law doesn't know about my site, hopefully she never will. But anything I say on there, I'd say to her face, so I don't really have any reason to hide..

Louisiana said...

i have a big boy who is bigger than his dad. he should be a football player or something and he was my tiniest of babies..then my huge one, my other son was i ounce short of 11 lbs and he is so skinny but broad and muscular...you can't always tell how your kids are going to turn out. i guess we must just do our best always. hugs.