Heading Off Childhood Obesity Begins at Home

It is newsworthy how often families nowadays trust the education system to instruct their youngsters all kinds of things other than just reading, writing and arithmetic. Many parents delegate the responsibility for avoiding childhood obesity on the shoulders of the school board as well, believing that gym classes and nutrition should be a piece of the school's curriculum so that kids can stay fit and healthy. This is a very ill-judged attitude by parents and one that is a surefire formula for disaster. To battle childhood obesity and to keep children fit and healthy, there must be changes made in the home first and foremost.

One of the reasons that parents can't trust the school systems to accept this is that many schools just can't provide gym classes the way they once did. Schools are usually overcrowded these days so the gymnasium needs to serve as a lunchroom for more hours than ever before. Without regular physical activity, childhood obesity is an almost sure thing. And just teaching a child about calories and fat and nutritional content of food doesn't mean that he or she will be avoiding junk food and fast food also! Just having the knowledge about these matters isn't motive enough to help a child take the choices needed to avoid childhood obesity.

A parent's model and what happens in the home is definitely a better indication of whether or not childhood obesity can be avoided. Children generally acquire lifestyle options and attitudes from their parents whether they're aware of it or not. Parents that are active and that regularly have something to do will likely raise children that are active and busy as well. Those parents that lay around on the couch each evening and on the weekends may find childhood obesity a problem in their own home. This is because children are learning to be sedentary and inactive. When a parent takes the effort to cook meals that are simple but nourishing a child will learn to value wholesome food and to take the extra time and effort needed to prepare such dishes. But when a parent is constantly falling back on drive-through meals and other poor dietary alternatives, a child may learn that such food is acceptable. This also will lead to cases of childhood obesity in the home.

Parents too can set limits with their children while they're with them to assist avoid childhood obesity. No one can totally control their child when they're on their own, but providing only nutritious meals and snacks when children are home will decrease any damage they're doing by consuming junk at every other time! Many cases of childhood obesity are also linked to in activeness during the day and evening. So parents can schedule times to go to a zoo, aquarium, or other places where everybody walks around. They can also help stave off childhood obesity by biking, walking, playing catch, playing Frisbee, setting up a badminton net, or other activities that involve all the family members.

As a parent, you must take responsibility for the health of your child. This includes making sure that he/she gets proper nutrition along with adequate exercise. Without this, they may become one of the many kids that are falling thru the cracks into obesity.

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