Childhood Obesity - What can we do to prevent childhood obesity?
The European Union Commission announced Heath some frightening, but not very surprising figures in relation to childhood obesity today: More than 400,000 children become overweight each year in Europe (!). The figures for North America, there is no better. The 2 main reasons for this are epedemic bad eating habits combined with a lack of activity. There is no surprise it. This is of course a very complex problem and not easy to solve. In my humble opinion, here are some key issues to cover:
1. Daily activity - we need to get kids more active. Much more active. A central problem is the way 90% of all children talk - Playstation, TV, movies, etc. Instead, you can bring back the joy and wonder of physical activity outdoors. Lets bring our kids to the park, forest, mountains, backyard, what is available. Encourage the wonder and excitement of going outdoors to explore in the woods looking for wildlife, fishing, skiing, you name it. Any outdoor activity, the fun is to teach a child to love and appreciate what lies outside the 35 "Panasonic TV. That, I believe, is one of the most important things we do to combat the problem. It is important it's fun and exciting, no pulling or boring.
2. Phyiscal activity in school - for some reason, the weekly amount of phyiscal education have fallen into our schools. This trend must be reversed. Lets increase the amount of diversity.
3. Sports - if we enroll children in sports, can be attributed to the promotion and the fostering of positive attitudes towards education and healthy living and not so much on specialization at an early age or pressure the children in performance-based goals. That can come later. And we have a very important fact to face: Under your son or daughter does not meet twice a week for football (soccer) practice, the total requirement of physical activity this week. Not even close. Studies have shown that adult-organized activities lead to 70% inactivity in the children. It's much better if they "run with the ball"and to supervise only.
4. Over-shooters - I know this is probably easy to say to me, since I have no children, but parents are too overprotective of their children. Take a look at an average school playground, it is either totally free of natural obstacles (trees, etc.), or if there are any - the branches are cut off to prevent children from climbing into it. "We " are all so worried and afraid that the children could get hurt, that we create this un-natural environment for them. Never let children explore their limits, and yes, that means falling from a tree, bleeding a little and maybe even go to the doctor once in a while. I believe that children are much more flexible then what we think. This over-protection creates children who are, for want of a better word, "wimps". They are afraid of everything, they do not go outside when it's a bit cold or rainy, etc. I also think that this is over-run protection for the child in search of other, more dangerous, ways of organizing an Adrenaline's later in life (drugs, alcahol etc).
5. Eating habits at home - we need a simple, good and healthy food for children in the home to create. No more soda, fast food, donuts, candy and other high sugar and high fat food. Lets go back to the traditional, simple diet that we used to eat. Some people might say that it is a "punishment " for the child if they do not have a donut and a soft drink, hell no! When I was growing up - I had only soft drinks and sweets twice a year (Christmas and New Year). That was it! Was I unhappy? No, I think I had the best childhood anyone could ask. I was 18 years old or so the first time I had fast food (training camp in southern Europe). Have good healthy meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This may mean spending more time cooking, ordered for a pizza etc, but think what you do for your child (and themselves). And I'm not talking about all these "popular" diets (Atkins, no fat, and what else is there). No, I'm talking about a simple diet along with good, raw products. Vegetables and fruit can also bring back into our lives.
6. Food in the schools - Walk into a public school to see now what it is for children to eat. It's amazing! How the hell can we let this happen? Filled soft drink machines on the walls and vending machines with candy, very bad food in the cafeteria, etc. I do not know what to say about that, otherwise serves as a WTF?
7. As a society we need to make changes - to force the schools to serve good food. Remove the food from the poor school property. Increase PE in our schools teach children about healthy lifestyles. Let them play outside, even if it is a bit cold ...
8. And finally - manufacturer of food products. Take a look at McDonald's for example. What kind of a great, great marketing plan. Happy meals, toys, a clown as a spokes-man, game rooms inside the restaurant, a McDonald's strategically placed near almost every school in the western world and a fantastic Ad Campaign-on all channels, the children could be observed. Can you closer to a "brainwashing" program? How the hell can a child may not eat at McDonald's several times a week after all that do? And it's not just McDonalds, they all do it. Any other foods on the market is unhealthy, un-natural "stuff" filled. Can we / should we as a society to enforce what food manufacturers can not and what market? I do not know. But one thing is for sure, I'm afraid, very afraid to try to bring a child into this world. I wish we could get this issue on the international agenda more. Forget the flu pandemic. It is a pandemic in progress now, and it is obesity.
The European Union Commission announced Heath some frightening, but not very surprising figures in relation to childhood obesity today: More than 400,000 children become overweight each year in Europe (!). The figures for North America, there is no better. The 2 main reasons for this are epedemic bad eating habits combined with a lack of activity. There is no surprise it. This is of course a very complex problem and not easy to solve. In my humble opinion, here are some key issues to cover:
1. Daily activity - we need to get kids more active. Much more active. A central problem is the way 90% of all children talk - Playstation, TV, movies, etc. Instead, you can bring back the joy and wonder of physical activity outdoors. Lets bring our kids to the park, forest, mountains, backyard, what is available. Encourage the wonder and excitement of going outdoors to explore in the woods looking for wildlife, fishing, skiing, you name it. Any outdoor activity, the fun is to teach a child to love and appreciate what lies outside the 35 "Panasonic TV. That, I believe, is one of the most important things we do to combat the problem. It is important it's fun and exciting, no pulling or boring.
2. Phyiscal activity in school - for some reason, the weekly amount of phyiscal education have fallen into our schools. This trend must be reversed. Lets increase the amount of diversity.
3. Sports - if we enroll children in sports, can be attributed to the promotion and the fostering of positive attitudes towards education and healthy living and not so much on specialization at an early age or pressure the children in performance-based goals. That can come later. And we have a very important fact to face: Under your son or daughter does not meet twice a week for football (soccer) practice, the total requirement of physical activity this week. Not even close. Studies have shown that adult-organized activities lead to 70% inactivity in the children. It's much better if they "run with the ball"and to supervise only.
4. Over-shooters - I know this is probably easy to say to me, since I have no children, but parents are too overprotective of their children. Take a look at an average school playground, it is either totally free of natural obstacles (trees, etc.), or if there are any - the branches are cut off to prevent children from climbing into it. "We " are all so worried and afraid that the children could get hurt, that we create this un-natural environment for them. Never let children explore their limits, and yes, that means falling from a tree, bleeding a little and maybe even go to the doctor once in a while. I believe that children are much more flexible then what we think. This over-protection creates children who are, for want of a better word, "wimps". They are afraid of everything, they do not go outside when it's a bit cold or rainy, etc. I also think that this is over-run protection for the child in search of other, more dangerous, ways of organizing an Adrenaline's later in life (drugs, alcahol etc).
5. Eating habits at home - we need a simple, good and healthy food for children in the home to create. No more soda, fast food, donuts, candy and other high sugar and high fat food. Lets go back to the traditional, simple diet that we used to eat. Some people might say that it is a "punishment " for the child if they do not have a donut and a soft drink, hell no! When I was growing up - I had only soft drinks and sweets twice a year (Christmas and New Year). That was it! Was I unhappy? No, I think I had the best childhood anyone could ask. I was 18 years old or so the first time I had fast food (training camp in southern Europe). Have good healthy meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This may mean spending more time cooking, ordered for a pizza etc, but think what you do for your child (and themselves). And I'm not talking about all these "popular" diets (Atkins, no fat, and what else is there). No, I'm talking about a simple diet along with good, raw products. Vegetables and fruit can also bring back into our lives.
6. Food in the schools - Walk into a public school to see now what it is for children to eat. It's amazing! How the hell can we let this happen? Filled soft drink machines on the walls and vending machines with candy, very bad food in the cafeteria, etc. I do not know what to say about that, otherwise serves as a WTF?
7. As a society we need to make changes - to force the schools to serve good food. Remove the food from the poor school property. Increase PE in our schools teach children about healthy lifestyles. Let them play outside, even if it is a bit cold ...
8. And finally - manufacturer of food products. Take a look at McDonald's for example. What kind of a great, great marketing plan. Happy meals, toys, a clown as a spokes-man, game rooms inside the restaurant, a McDonald's strategically placed near almost every school in the western world and a fantastic Ad Campaign-on all channels, the children could be observed. Can you closer to a "brainwashing" program? How the hell can a child may not eat at McDonald's several times a week after all that do? And it's not just McDonalds, they all do it. Any other foods on the market is unhealthy, un-natural "stuff" filled. Can we / should we as a society to enforce what food manufacturers can not and what market? I do not know. But one thing is for sure, I'm afraid, very afraid to try to bring a child into this world. I wish we could get this issue on the international agenda more. Forget the flu pandemic. It is a pandemic in progress now, and it is obesity.
0 comments:
Post a Comment