Child hood obesity is at an all-time high and is getting worse with every new generation, especially in the southern regions. Walking through the halls of an elementary school can be troublesome when the ratio of overweight children is out numbering the children who are in an average weight category for their height and age. Who is to blame for this rapid increase in obesity?
Happy Meals Attack
McDonald's Happy Meals have been taking most of the heat for the rounder generation. The media has quickly began to attack the corporate giant from all angles stating that the toys and marketing are targeting children increasing the intake of high saturated fatty foods. McDonald's has winged poor Ronald McDonald from the advertisements after CSPI sued McDonald's for targeting the American youth. Toys and a smiling clown cannot influence a child’s eating habits. McDonald's also provides an option to replace french fries with apple slices. McDonald's has moved away from focusing on food items. Coffee has now been the center of advertising, quickly changing McDonald's into a more sophisticated environment. In perspective, is McDonald's really to blame or is it the parents?
Video Games
Children no longer want to climb trees are play at the park. It is all about the newest and latest video game for the top systems. Wii and Kinect allow for physical movement and even weight loss programs, but is it enough?
"Skinny Fat"
Children may appear to be lean and healthy, but most kids who are skinny have good genetics. This does not mean that they are getting the proper nutrition that is needed at such a crucial time in development. Habits stay with people throughout most of adolescents and may even carry over into adult hood. It is important to form a healthy balanced diet and active lifestyle at a young age.
School Meals
The school systems meals may have smaller portions that reduce over eating, but the meals are far from nutritious. A typical breakfast at an elementary school consists of the choice from a pop tart, cereal, jelly toast, and an apple. This is not the meal, these are the choices. A child is more likely to go for the sugary pop tart than the sugar free cereal. The lunch menu is a repeat of hamburgers, pizza and other items that encourage children to intake more fatty foods. Low budgets have made it hard for schools to provide more substantial meals. Parents may consider packing lunch and providing breakfast at home.
Snack Time
The cheaper snacks may cost a lot more in the long run when looking at health factors. Potato chips, cookies, and other fatty foods have all been turned into convenient snack sizes that are cheap and easy to take on the go. These items are not filling and have no nutritional value that is needed for a growing child. Next time grab a cheese stick or handful of peanuts. According to Karen Drader, a nurse for the offices of Dr. Randal King in Owensboro, stated that a good snack is high and protein and does not contain quick sugars and high carbohydrates.
Dr. King’s office has had a weight loss program for eight years and has recently begun taking teenagers into the program. Most of the teenagers that are seen by Drader, and other nurses in the office, have parents who are on the same weight loss program. Both the mother and child need help with the same national and fitness issues. The truth about America’s problem with the youths’ weight is not the fault of the fast food chains or the video games. Drader has seen a trend in parents and children. Children mimic what the parents are doing. If the parent eats badly, the child eats badly. If the parent does not exercise, the child will not exercise. Parents need to start children on a healthy diet that includes all of the food pyramid without the added fat. Video games are okay sometimes, but a family bike ride or a nice family hike through a national park not only increases daily activities, it can even bring the family closer. Sometimes it is nice to just turn music up and have a dance off with the kids in the living room. Dancing burns all kinds of calories. Include children in exercise routines, these habits will stick with them and help prevent adult obesity as well. Sign kids up for sports. There are so many ways to avoid having a child who is overweight; the initiative just has to be there first. It is important to always "practice what is preached", especially when the audience is young and impressionable.
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