There is definitely a childhood obesity epidemic happening right in front of our eyes. If we want to ensure that our kids stay healthy, we need to be aware of what’s going on and work to prevent them from occurring in our household.
1. Video Games: Though it’s not necessarily related only to video games, they play a big part in why our kids are fat. Don’t believe it? Think back to when you were a kid and how often you played video games. Even if they were around, you likely did plenty of other things outside or elsewhere besides sit in front of the screen. These are too much fun for kids to pass up and therefore they are choosing these over exercise each and every time.
2. Bad Examples: Be honest with yourself—are you really as active as you should be? Are your kid’s friends as active as they should be? Oftentimes kids are victims of their own circumstances and if you don’t lead by example, they will follow along in your path. If you sit on the couch, they will be likely to do the same thing. If you show them how an active lifestyle can benefit them, then they may be apt to do the same.
3. Too Much Technology Available: With so many high tech options such as computers, cell phones, Facebook, texting, instant messaging, and so much more, it’s no wonder that our kids are choosing anything but exercise. When they can stay connected and have fun inside the house, then why would they ever leave? The more they sit and use this technology, the fatter that they get.
4. Too Many Unhealthy Food Choices: There’s unhealthy food at school, at home, at a friend’s house, and at restaurants—so what’s a kid going to pick? When they are presented with unhealthy food choices, chances are that they will pick it each and every time. When they are faced with these unhealthy foods everywhere, they will choose them because they taste good—plain and simple. Educate them on the right choices and they will be more likely to make them.
5. Mindless Eating: Kids and adults alike tend to eat without even thinking about it. They eat when they are bored, they eat when they are sitting and watching TV, and they eat just because. This all adds up to excessive calories and therefore the weight that they simply can’t get off.
6. Inactivity Everywhere: Kids used to be far more active in school through gym class, through afterschool activities, and so much more. There were opportunities for kids to always be active and so they stayed in shape. Now there are too many other options and a lack of activity happening everywhere around them, and the reality is that this is forcing them to sit around a whole lot more.
7. Bad Habits: When you develop bad habits in any capacity, they are often hard to break. If your kids get into the habit of coming home from school and sitting around, then that will be what they get used to. If they get into the habit of being inactive then that is what they will carry with them. These bad habits develop before your eyes and then it’s much harder to break them.
If we want to keep our kids from getting fat, then we need to be aware of the triggers. These are some of the biggest triggers for kids, and so it’s our jobs as parents to keep this all in check.
Mary Frederick shares information with readers on how to obtain a masters of public health.