Childhood Obesity, Part II

April 15th, 2008 admin

As a mother and grandmother, I am very concerned about childhood obesity and the related diseases caused by it.

Obesity is defined as a weight that is 20% – 30% above normal weight. Morbid obesity is 50% -100% above normal weight. The greatest increases in childhood obesity are with Hispanic, African-American, and children of all races in Southern states.

In families where both parents are overweight, “the children have a close to 80% chance of being overweight. Genetics explains part of it, but there’s no question that lifestyle choices play the major role.” *

Be proactive with this issue. Take advantage of sites such as http://www.growuphealthy.org Keep your children healthy and active.

*from: Better Life Unlimited, “They’re Watching You”

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Childhood Obesity

April 11th, 2008 admin

Childhood obesity is a national epidemic. The percentage of overweight children ages 6 to 11 has more than doubled over the past 20 years, from 7% in 1980 to 18.8% in 2004. Among teens, obesity has more than triples over the past 20 years, from 5% to 17.1%.*

Just as with adults, childhood obesity has serious health consequences. We know that diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancers, asthma, anxiety, and depression can be caused by obesity. Childhood obesity in Delaware costs the state $207 million dollars in medical expenditures every year.*

We recommended the site http://www.growuphealthy.org to you on an earlier blog. You can find more information for teens at the top of the page by clicking on the green arrow. We feel it is important to give our children all the help we can in growing up healthy. A teenager’s good self-image is an imperative tool when making difficult choices and decisions.

*from: http://www.growuphealthy.org

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5-2-1-Almost None

April 10th, 2008 admin

Recently we were in the Philadelphia/Delaware area and noticed a billboard for http://www.growuphealthy.org and went to their site. This site is developed by Nemours Health & Prevention Services (NHPS), based in Newark, Delaware. Their goal is to make Delaware children the healthiest in the country.

Important financial support comes from Alfred I. duPont Testamentary Trust established in 1935.
The Trust was established to help children and for the preservation and enjoyment of the Nemours Mansion and Gardens in Wilmington, Delaware.

The website is one of the best that I have seen! It is creative, colorful, has exciting audio, provides great links, parental support, and a simple message of 5-2-1-Almost None. This means eat 5 servings of fruits & vegetables a day, spend no more than 2 hours each day in front of a screen, have 1 hour of exercise each day, and almost no sugary beverages.

The “Adventures of the Mighty Timoneers” takes you on a pirate ship and helps you avoid all the junk food monsters. Your children will love this site. It is truly a delight!

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Being Healthy with Small Steps

January 30th, 2008 admin

Exercise, exercise, exercise! It’s the single most important thing you can encourage your child to do for health. There is a wonderful TV campaign now about exercise and how healthy food can help our children win. You can also see these advertisements on the Small Step website.

This website, www.smallstep.gov, which is a service of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services will help you make small changes for optimal health. “Get up and play an hour a day” and “Be a Player” is the mantra to encourage children to run, throw, think and eat better. The step challenges and activities on the site will be enjoyed by all.

You will also learn which foods are rich in fiber (good for your heart), how fruits help you see better (vitamin A) and provide vitamin C. Children will also learn how lean meats give you protein to build strong muscles and what foods are the sources for potassium, calcium, and iron. It is a family friendly site.

Better Life Unlimited has two PDFs that will give you a complete family list of Small Steps and information on sources for phytonutrients. You can find more information about Better Life Unlimited in our newsletter archives in the month of April 2007, “Want a Better Life.”

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