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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Emotional Intelligence

April 1st, 2008 admin

I was listening to the radio while driving in my car and heard a program about the book “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman. It reminded me of another book, “Deadly Emotions” by Don Colbert, M.D.

Both books deal with the importance of emotional health and how it affects us. In “Emotional Intelligence,” Daniel Coleman indicates that it may be more important than IQ. People with emotional intelligence know how to be patient, to wait, and how to react to the many emotionally and socially challenging issues that we all face. Attitude is everything! Emotional intelligence (or rather, lack of it) either cause or drive numerous medical problems.

“Deadly Emotions” is written by Don Colbert, M.D. whose basic message is “What we feel emotionally often becomes how we feel physically.” He has come to this conclusion after treating hundreds of patients.

We have mentioned, in our newsletters and blog, how stress is a major contributor of a variety of physical illnesses. Destructive emotions have a toxic effect on the body. As Don Colbert says, “Stress, anger, fear, anxiety and depression-any negative emotion-can be a ticking time bomb.”

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