By Staff Reports
(DGIwire) — Today, nearly one in three children is overweight or obese. Children are now developing obesity-related diseases, previously considered primarily adult conditions, at an alarming rate. These lifestyle related diseases such as type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, poor glucose and insulin metabolism, asthma, allergies and the collection known as metabolic syndrome are becoming common even before the age of 18. Children are now developing diabetes between the ages of 10 and 14. Many children are now taking adult medications for these chronic conditions. Sadly, studies show that 70% of overweight kids will continue to be overweight or obese in adulthood.
This trend needs to be reversed. Back in 1998 the U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher said that childhood obesity was at epidemic levels in the United States. Yet, the numbers and rate have only increased over the last 16 years. Richard Carmona who is also a previous Surgeon General said that because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, we may see our first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
Is this what you want for your children? Parents need to wake up and take responsibility for setting the example along with teaching their children how to eat properly, keep active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Why are our children getting fat and sick? Obviously, we are allowing it to happen and most likely contributing to it. Parents would not knowingly poison their children or let them play with loaded guns; however that is exactly what is happening when we allow our children to consume diets of processed, refined, fast-food, sugar-laden sodas and other drinks and all other junk food.
“We now live in a manufactured and processed fast-food world. You need help yourself and your family. Our children are like sponges and it is always amazing how quickly they will actually take on this personal responsibility when taught correct dietary and activity guidelines while also having a good role model to follow. However, it is parents that need to set the example. Please don’t poison your children. Start today and give your kids a gift that they can take with them for the rest of their happy and healthy lives,” say health experts Dian Griesel, Ph.D. and Tom Griesel, co-authors of TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust (BSH 2011).
Tom Griesel adds, “No one is going to do this for you. There are powerful trends and market forces at work that have absolutely no interest in your health. However, it is easier than you might imagine to begin a healthier diet and lifestyle.”