It’s interesting how frequently families today trust the education system to teach their kids all kinds of things other than just reading, writing and arithmetic. A lot of parents place the obligation for averting childhood obesity on the shoulders of the school board as well, believing that gym courses and nutrition should be part of the school’s curriculum so that children can continue to be fit and healthy. This is a very ill-judged position by parents and one that is a surefire formula for tragedy. To combat childhood obesity and to keep children healthy and ablee-bodied, there must be changes made in the home first and foremost.
One of the reasons that parents can’t rely on the school systems to take care of this is that many school systems just can’t offer gym courses the way they once did. Schools are normally overcrowded these days so the gymnasium needs to perform as the lunchroom for more hours than ever before. Without daily physical activity, childhood obesity is an almost certainty. And just instructing a youngster about calories and fat and nutritional content of food does not mean that he or she will be avoiding junk food and fast food as well! Just knowing about these things isn’t motive enough to help a child make the choices needed to avoid childhood obesity.
A parent’s model and what happens in the home is probably a better indication of whether or not childhood obesity can be avoided. Children normally adopt lifestyle choices and attitudes from their parents whether they’re aware of it or not. Parents that are active and that regularly have activities to do will likely raise children that are active and busy as well. Those parents that sit on the couch each evening and on the weekends may find childhood obesity a problem in their own home. This is because children are being taught to be sedentary and inactive. If a parent takes the time to cook meals that are simple but wholesome a child will learn to value nutritious food and to take the extra time and effort required to prepare such dishes. But when a parent is regularly falling back on drive-through meals and other poor dietary choices, a youngster may learn that such food is desirable. This too may lead to cases of childhood obesity in the home.
Parents too can set limits with their children when they’re with them to help avoid childhood obesity. No one can totally control their child when they’re on their own, but providing only nutritious meals and snacks when a child is home will lessen any damage they’re doing by eating junk at every other time! A lot of cases of childhood obesity are also linked to inaction during the day and evening. So parents can plan times to go to a zoo, aquarium, or other places where everybody walks around. They can also help stave off childhood obesity by biking, walking, playing catch, playing Frisbee, setting up a badminton net, or other activities that involve all the family members.
As a parent, you must take responsibility for the health of your child. This includes making sure that he/she gets proper nutrition along with adequate exercise. Without this, they may become oe of the many kids that are falling thru the cracks into obesity.
