What can be done to combat obesity in American youth?

With the advancement in electronic media children are going out to play less and lacking exercise. The availability of fast foods and having working parents who often don’t have time to cook nutrionally balanced meals are contributing to an unhealthy nutrional imbalance.

What should be done to reduce and prevent obesity in our young that leads to chronic illness later in life? Will our children have shorter life spans than their parents if this continues?

Your thoughts please.

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14 Responses to “What can be done to combat obesity in American youth?”

  1. nmcglynn - December 14th, 2009

    Parenting.

  2. Nicaguy73 - December 14th, 2009

    What if the parent is obese as well. I've seen it and they just don't get it. How do we help them?

  3. nmcglynn - December 14th, 2009

    Obesity will effect over a third of our kids. This is one sad stat. Education is a key. If you want, check out USANA Health Sciences. USANA is big on kids, proper food, Nutrition, exercise.
    If you have more questions e-me at TDMEnterprise@Msn.com

  4. jezashurst - December 14th, 2009

    I agree Sher. There is something missing in the education system and that goes for the children as well as the parents.

  5. TippTatler - December 14th, 2009

    It's obvious to me that the parents either don't know, don't care and are having such a hard time to just cope with life that this issue is going to the backburner. You got to start with the kids and hope that they will do a better job with their kids. Sometimes the kids can educate their parents as well……

  6. nmcglynn - December 14th, 2009

    My kids play hard Ski and I play with them. I'm not as young or as fast as I used to be but it tickles the kids that one of the moms on the block can through a spiral or drive the lane.

    And I jump a wicked double dutch.

  7. TippTatler - December 14th, 2009

    Thanks lilmartian, I keep my kids active. In order to have computer or video game time they have to do some reading and they have to spend equal amounts out of doors at play. I relax my rules when the weather is bad but they don't get to sit around being couch potatoes when it's cold outside. My kids have gym in school one 45 min period a week and they don't even have recess where there can run and play.

  8. AroundHarlem - December 14th, 2009

    Thank Bush's no child left behind act for that one. It puts so much pressure on teachers to have students that perform well at standardized tests that they don't get to be kids.

  9. nmcglynn - December 14th, 2009

    Wow Jackie I am amazed at the lack of gym in your school district, my kids went 4 times a week and it was compulsory. They taught mainly life skills, that is physical activity you would do after you grew up. Where I'm from it was alot of recreational team sports, curling, swimming, softball and the like. My daughter is a competitive curler all winter long, and my son is the rec hockey guy. Me the family dogwalker, LOL

  10. WhittierCollege - December 14th, 2009

    I'm a jock. I play hard and the kids play with me. My little ones ride their bikes while I jog twice a week and they try to power walk with me but without the weights 3 days a week. We do aerobics together and just have fun playing around. The middle kids are active in football and basket and we all swim. My adult children were all in to team sports both off my daughter played basketball through high school and college and my sons played soccer and football. They are still very active. We are all quite healthy because of it. My hubby was far less active and was diagnosed with diabetes. He has lost some weight, eats better and he works out with us more now. He's been off of his medication for 7 months now and he feels great.

    The schools in New York City don't offer as much in the way of organized sports in the lower grades and by then the children are already overweight and are not inclined to be as active. It's a shame but we keep working on making changes in the school system but with little progress so far.

  11. nmcglynn - December 14th, 2009

    Do you think the parents need more education about nutrition or should it be a subject in school to teach children to each right and exercise?

  12. MycroftRussell - December 14th, 2009

    I don't think you learn life skills from a book. You learn them in real life. It should start at home. The schools should only be serving wholesome good foods to begin with (unlike the junk they served when I was in school).

    And as far as the parents go, if you can't tell difference between a cookie and whole wheat bread your parenting licsence should be revoked.

  13. TippTatler - December 14th, 2009

    It's nice to know that people who come from less active families still see the need to be more active. I also like your observation that that people need to make time to exercise of the can lose out time on their life span. Thanks umm.

  14. nmcglynn - December 14th, 2009

    I think the schools, the media as well as the parents need to be in tune with the needs our our younger generation in regards to their life-long health.

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