The big white elephant sitting in the middle of our country: childhood obesity.
Posted: October 22, 2016 | By: Rocio Ramos
For decades now, adults and children in the U.S. have struggled with the same health concern that only seems to be getting worse; obesity. Obesity rates have increased drastically over the last four decades. Not to mention, childhood obesity, seems to be this big white elephant in the U.S. that we all see daily, but yet don’t do anything about; often times adults continue to contribute to the problem. In fact, a study published in the journal Pediatrics last month found that parents can’t seem to tell if their child is overweight or obese. And this is where the biggest problem lies.
Currently, more than 23 million children (1 in 3 children) between the ages of 2 to 19 years old are overweight or obese.[1] An alarming number when we think of the many health concerns that a child is predisposed to such as bone & joint issues, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even being at risk for stroke. These are all diseases that one may never consider to be associated with a child, but unfortunately they are. This is why parents recognizing their child’s state of health is necessary in the fight against obesity.
Over three-quarters of the parents surveyed from 2005 to 2010, in the study published in Pediatrics, considered their overweight children to be “about the right weight.[2]” The same was asked of parents in 1988 to 1994 in which 51 percent of those parents acknowledged their child had a weight problem. The fact that obesity in children has more than doubled over the last decade may be changing the way parents look at obesity; perhaps considering it to be normal. If parents are seeing overweight or obese children as normal, then they must also consider doctors, and even hospital visits as normal. What parent likes spending time in a hospital with their child because they can’t breathe?
The costs associated childhood obesity in the U.S. has reached about $14 billion per year![3] Children are spending more and more time at the doctor dealing with a variety of illnesses caused by their state of health. While all that is needed to resolve this problem, is awareness. Spending less time at the doctor can be solved by learning, and executing proper eating habits and active lifestyle changes. All it takes is for parents to recognize their child’s health issues and help them make changes. Recognizing that a “Happy Meal” and soda are not proper meals is necessary in combating childhood obesity.
The obesity epidemic will only improve when the entire U.S. population works together towards better awareness. Proper nutrition is vital! Children need to be fed proper nutrients that will help them develop and not be fed substances that will put them at risk for disease. Parents can start by adding KidSprinklz™ Watermelon Mist to their child’s diet. This new multi-vitamin powder supplement not only provides children with essential nutrients, but it’s also fat-free, sugar-free, gluten-free and tastes great; adding to the many benefits.
We can all do our part to solve the childhood obesity problem, awareness and prevention are key!
[1] http://healthierkidsbrighterfutures.org/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2014_Toolkit1.pdf
[2] http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2014/08/25/todays-parents-less-able-to-spot-obesity-in-their-kids-study
[3] http://healthierkidsbrighterfutures.org/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2014_Toolkit1.pdf
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