Epidemic of the 21st century - overweight, sick kids!
In the recent past, the issues parents dealt with
regarding their children’s health focused on diseases
like chickenpox and conditions like “Little League”
elbow. But today’s parents are having the
pediatrician tell them their 11-year-old son has
Type 2 diabetes or their 16-year-old daughter
has osteoporosis. The “out-of-control” lifestyles
fashioned by the adults of the past 40 years
has led to a 50 percent increase in the
diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes–the kind of
diabetes that used to be known as “adult
onset” because this obesity-related disorder
wasn’t usually diagnosed until age 50 or older!
Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor in the
development of premature heart disease,
kidney failure and even blindness.
Heart-attack risk
Elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels are
commonplace issues for today’s children.
Overweight kids show elevated C-reactive protein in
their bloodstream–another risk factor for heart attacks
and even strokes.
The calcium connection
Conditions like osteoporosis we associate with
older women–age 70 and upward. But today, it
is not at all uncommon to have bone-density
tests in young gymnasts, ballerinas and
anorexics showing dangerous thinning of
their bones, leading to increased risk of
fractures and even a loss of height from
collapse of their vertebrae! We know
that very low body weight and low body
fat can lead to this occurring in
youngsters, but we are seeing bone
thinning in normal or even overweight
teens and young adults from another
hidden culprit–sodas. Today’s youth drink
almost three times the amount of soft
drinks and about half as much milk as 20
years ago. The main theory explaining these
health effects involves the high phosphate
content of sodas “leaching” calcium out of the bones
and even demineralizing teeth!
Our busy lifestyle is weighing children down
With obesity having doubled in children in the past 20
years, it should not be surprising to hear of these horrific
facts I have just outlined. But, of course, it is shocking. Our
children are the victims of 20th-century lifestyle
syndrome–fast foods for two meals per day, sitting for
hours in front of the television, Nintendo or computer, running from soccer games to
school plays, etc. Our children are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, headaches
and reflux esophagitis–conditions largely caused by diet and lifestyle choices.
Wellness–an “Herbalized” lifestyle–should and must be a family affair
If we begin to place an emphasis on eating healthy foods and increasing
activity levels in our children, we can reverse these alarming trends. A study
published in Pediatrics found that children who watch TV while eating are
twice as likely to eat “junk” food as opposed to fruits and vegetables. So turn
off the TV! Children should be participating in physical activity for at least 30
minutes three times per week. Gym classes have been cancelled due
to budgetary reasons in many school districts, so it may be up to
parents to get their children outside.
Let’s set examples for our own children and they can
be the messengers to their friends and classmates
Here are a few guidelines for dealing with overweight
children. Be sure the child has been evaluated by a
medical doctor to assure there are no health issues or
reasons why losing weight would be a problem.
Children can begin their day with a Dinomins
multivitamin tablet and a shake made with nonfat milk
or soy milk. Or how about a DinoShake®? The
Chocolicious flavor served warm makes a terrific, tasty
and nutritious alternative to hot chocolate. Counsel
parents about taking the chips, cookies, granola bars and
sodas out of their children’s lunch bag (and avoiding school
lunches which tend to be high in fat and sugar calories). A
meat or cheese sandwich on whole-wheat bread, a baggie of
carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes and a small apple can be filling,
has less calories and is much more nutritious. A shake after school is a
great way
to avoid the snacking-all-the-way-to-dinnertime tendency. Or prepare a
frozen treat made with 
DinoShake® Wild Berry Blast. Then a family dinner with
chicken or fish, a green salad and a whole-grain roll along with lots of fresh water
will complete the day! If an
evening snack is needed, try half
of a frozen Thermojetics® High-
Protein, Low-Carb Protein Bar,
or a package of Roasted Soy
Nuts with Cardia® Salt with freshsqueezed,
minimally sweetened
lemonade. I’m getting hungry!
Overweight children don’t need
to be part of an ongoing
epidemic.
We can make a difference.
Choose to set the example of
picking up an apple instead of an
ice-cream bar. Stop smoking.
Turn off the television or computer
and shoot some hoops with your
children or go for a walk. Be sure
to take your dog so you won’t
have a fat dog at risk for diabetes
and heart disease–yes, they
develop the same diseases as
humans! We can reverse the
trends of the end of the 20th
century. Let’s make the 21st
century the century of wellness,
family values and quality of life.
Let’s start today.
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