If your child is obese or overweight then you know just how frustrating it can be to deal with the problem. The problem is that there are many factors which encourage children to eat too much and become obese.
As soon as our kids go to school we cannot control what they eat. Most of their waking lives will be spent at school. When your kids are at school they have to spend a large proportion of their time sitting down. This means that your kids will not be getting enough exercise. As a result of ongoing budget cuts, many children no longer have physical education every day. The educational demands on our kids have increased and this meant that the recess times have shrunk. Many local districts have cut physical education to once or twice a week and each session typically only lasts 20 minutes.
Children also have a hard time eating well when they are at school. Cafeteria food is often made with refined carbohydrates and a lot of fat. Popular kid’s meals at school include: pizza, instant mashed potato, battered fish, tacos, and chicken nuggets. There are healthier options like salads however these are not often chosen by kids because they are not as popular. For desert there are yogurts and jelly, both of which are very high in sugar content. Few kids will ever choose to eat fresh fruit or vegetables.
In defense of schools, they really cannot take all of the blame as they have to work within tight budgets. It’s up to the whole of the world to deal with this situation and start finding solutions. It may not be possible to fix all of the problems at school, but parents can help by educating their children about the causes of obesity.
One great solution might be using weight loss summer camps. There are many different types of fitness camps including after school programs, weekend, or even summer break fat camps. These weight loss camps for kids are designed to teach children how to live their life healthily. Teaching children how to eat and exercise healthily should mean that the effects of the holiday camp are long lasting.
Parents can also do their part at home. Try to change your own life so that your kids don’t get back into their old habits. You can even pack your own lunch for your children to take to school instead of having them eat the food the school provides. Make sure that they don’t spend all of their free time sitting in front of the TV or computer.
While you cannot control all that happens outside of the house, you can help change their habits for the better so that they live a healthy life. These habits will change the way that your children live and will carry on benefiting them even when they leave school and get a job. Teach them the importance of exercise and healthy eating, or have a weight loss camp help you do so, so that they always know that this can make them healthy.
Health and Fitness • February 5th, 2010 •