How do we fight it?  Let’s talk about the obvious first.  The children need better eating habits.  Most kids want junk food all the time, and it’s not always easy to avoid with all the commercials making junk food look attractive.  In the cereal aisle, the most unhealthy cereals have the brightest boxes and are placed at a child’s eye level.  This is because the marketing is geared toward the kids.  Next time you’re at the grocery store, notice how the healthier cereals are toward the top.  Everyone has a tendency to snack on things in the house, so if your child likes to snack, make sure there are healthy snacks around and leave junk food at the store.  They can’t get what’s not there.

Proper eating goes hand in hand with exercise, even for kids.  But if the idea of your kid pumping iron scares you because they’re so young, fear not.  Exercise really refers to any type of activity that gets you moving.  No, your kid doesn’t have to join the gym, but they do need to get active.  For example, enroll your child in a sport or dance class.  Try swimming or roller skating.  Get the neighborhood kids together for a fun game of soccer.  Younger children may find it fun to ride bikes, jump rope or play outside in the sprinkler on a hot day.  Almost anything goes, as long as you get their bodies moving.

The key is to give children the best head start possible and start teaching them fitness now.  It will be easier on them in the long run. They’ll have the basics to build a healthy life. If you are concerned about your child’s weight, see their doctor.  Changing the trend of childhood obesity is a family affair.  Help them develop good habits and set them up for success!

Copyright © 2007 by A.M. Birmingham, ISSA CFT