Growing Healthy Kids + Stopping Childhood Obesity

Posted: October 9, 2012

Childhood Obesity is on the rise. More than 23 million children are obese or overweight.  We all know it.  We all see it. But what can be done about it? I believe it all starts at home. We, as parents, have the ultimate control over the majority of food that goes into our kids' bodies.  Sure there are times they're at school or a friend's house where we can't control what they choose or what's given to them, but we can teach them to make good choices most of the time so they can enjoy an occasional splurge.  I saw this amazing (yet shocking) infographic on Anytime Fitness' website last week, and knew I had to write a post about it.  7.5 HOURS of screen time a day?!?!? WOW.  But between tv, computers, games, ipads, cell phones, and texting...it adds up!

Why Are Our Children Still Obese Infographic

3 Tips on Growing Healthy Kids:

1) Stop being in such a gosh darn hurry.

Instead of rushing to get to the playground in a stroller or wagon, let your child actually run/walk alongside you.  Yes, it will be slow.  Yes, you may wish you could just scoop them up to get there faster.  BUT, you are building such valuable skills, endurance, and a sense of accomplishment. Let the journey BE the activity instead of just rushing to a destination. I was so surprised that Babycakes was able AND EXCITED to jog/walk on her own...she went three quarters of a mile with a smile on her face the entire time!!  We jogged to benches, tree bark to touch, doggies to pet, leaves to jump in, and swings to swing on.  


2) Be an example.

The happy healthy life is taught. Your actions speak a lot louder than any words you might say. It's hard to tell your child not to drink soda if you're downing it yourself. How you spend your time influences how they will spend theirs. Children are imitators. Give them something worth imitating!


3) Embrace the mess.

Healthy food can be messy.  Let them eat it anyway.  Babycakes loves grabbing homegrown tomatoes out of the garden and eating them like apples. Am I going to squelch that desire over a few drips of juice? NO.  I also let her self-feed a big cup of Chobani greek-yogurt. Is her face covered in a white mess afterwards? Yes. But, paper towels are an amazing invention!!

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Comments

Submitted by Rebekah - October 9, 2012 - 12:07pm

So true, it starts at home! If we take the time to prioritize exercise within our own lives, it will surely reflect on our children. I recently read that if the current obesity trend continues, our teens and young adults will be too fat to serve in the military. The irony is that school lunches were started to help "fatten up" the kids to be able to serve in the military and now with all of the processed foods and fattening meals that schools serve, it is the antithesis of the original intention.

Submitted by Brittany - October 9, 2012 - 1:14pm

This is such good stuff!! I am working on my master's on this. I like in Kentucky, and our obesity rate is insane!! I love working with kids and parents to educate them on this. Ever thought about doing volunteer work in this area???

Submitted by Mollie @ Sprinkles of Life - October 9, 2012 - 2:23pm

Brittany- that's so great you are doing work in this area. It is so needed. Volunteer opportunities? :) I would love to hear more!

Submitted by Sharla - October 9, 2012 - 1:16pm

Love this post! I'm so concerned about these issues with my little brother and often think about how I will pass a healthy lifestyle on to my own children should I ever have any.

Submitted by Calee Himes - October 9, 2012 - 2:09pm

soo scary. I'm glad you posted about this!

Submitted by Mollie @ Sprinkles of Life - October 9, 2012 - 2:22pm

Great post, Kelly! i couldn't agree more! your tips are easy and practical. And so full of truth! I hope you don't mind me jacking this image (and crediting you and anytime fitness of course) and possibly using it in a future post?

Submitted by Shelly DeVries - October 9, 2012 - 4:32pm

Well, the 7.5 hours is SCREEN time. That means when they are texting, using an iPad, playing video games, facebook, twitter, watching TV, etc. Any type of screen. We seriously limit our kids on playing computer games and will not be getting them a phone before they need one. I have been hearing kids aren't getting enough sleep because they sleep with their phones and they text each other in the middle of the night. There is such a need to have instant communication and if we don't get a response immediately, we don't know what to do. It's really a problem and contributing to this whole issue not to mention issues of not enough face-to-face social interaction.

Submitted by kelly - October 9, 2012 - 4:36pm

You're so right - I even updated my post :) I have heard about the whole texting in the middle of the night thing. Maybe phones should be "checked in" to mom and dad's room at night. And set free again in the morning :)
Submitted by Krista S - February 28, 2013 - 9:13am

I was in a house the other day that had more TVs than people living there. There was even a TV in the baby's room (only a crib in this room, so I know it wasn't shared with older kids)!! I'm forever trying to explain to my mom that she doesn't sleep well because she watches TV in bed, but she doesn't believe it. :|

Submitted by mom-to-mom - October 9, 2012 - 4:56pm

Beautiful words! Wish that I had set a better example when my kids were small and maybe we all would be fit and healthy today.

Submitted by Wendy - October 9, 2012 - 5:49pm

Not a choice between something they should eat and something they want to eat, I was listening to local radio in NM today and their was a child on announcing the lunch choices for the day Corn Chip Pie or some sort of Veggie bowl...DUH guess which one they picked! I mean seriously they could make the Pie (such as it is) better maybe only garnish with a few chips, possibly omit the cheese or try to use Fat free cheese, I don't know what the schools are allotted these days in terms of food items, I know the lunch ladies are trying but they can only do so much with what they are given. I know back in my day the school lunches were GROSS, I tried to avoid them, but many kids here this is the only GOOD meal they get the whole day, so if it is fat laden and bad for them, now what?

Submitted by Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean - October 9, 2012 - 10:22pm

such an important message! love this!!

Submitted by Corrie Kreisel - October 10, 2012 - 11:53am

Those are some great tips!! I'm using them on my nieces & nephews!! I'm always impressed by how far kids can run/walk too if you give them the chance!

Submitted by Claudia - October 12, 2012 - 5:38pm

Loved your post and your pictures of Babycakes! What great timing, seems to be the topic of conversation lately.. your post totally coincided with Dr. McDougall's recent article in Forks Over Knives!

http://www.forksoverknives.com/diet-children-and-the-future/#more-9157

Submitted by Daniel Grey - November 28, 2012 - 2:27am

Child obesity is the worst problem that we are facing today. So it is important to know about it and its prevention. It fully depends on parents and they should inculcate healthy habits in their kids. This will help their children to maintain healthy lifestyle. This post provides very nice tips that can fight child obesity.

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