Adolescent Obesity and What We Can Do to Keep Our Children Healthy

I have been watching the most horrific and frightful story ever told; About a young girl who weighed nearly 400 pounds! Below is an article provided by The Insider:

For the past three weeks we have brought you the story of JESSICA, the young girl who reached 400 pounds and was forced to get around by rolling because her morbid obesity made it difficult to not only walk, but even to breathe.

But happily, a dramatic transformation has begun for the bright little girl. "The Insider"'s VICTORIA RECAѐO traveled to Jessica's hometown just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, where she was hospitalized with breathing problems.

Soon after her hospital stay, Jessica was able to take the first steps in battling her weight as she headed to a children's hospital in Virginia. It was there where she successfully lost nearly 300 pounds!

Although significantly smaller and now capable of doing what other children her age do -- like playing with a hula hoop -- Jessica still suffers from the ramifications of being overweight for so long.

Jessica gradually became bow-legged as she grew, her legs unable to withstand the pressure from the extra pounds, resulting in a number of surgeries to help repair her legs.

Pins and braces were implanted in her legs to help straighten them and they will most likely be removed in the next few weeks.

This is a very disturbing situation, and not only that, but one that is very common in our youth today. I wish to express my suggestions on how to maintain a healthy environment for our children. The main thing and most important, is the fact of how we feed our children. I've seen so many parents stuff their children with fast foods, junk foods and fail to keep them motivated to exercise. This is a major contributing factor in the overweight problems we see in so many children.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't allow them foods like these, although a scientific test would prove more energetic and attentive, plus motivated children in areas where the parents do not allow their children too much of what we call junk food. These foods are loaded with sugar and fatty acids, carbohydrates and sodium; all factors in an unhealthy status and habits in children.

Another factor in this situation would be how the children are allowed to just sit in front of televisions, and not being more motivated to exercise. Now don't get me wrong, children are able to have exercise in their curriculum everyday. Especially when they are in school; they have physical education classes and health courses that are requirements in the school. But once they arrive home with their families, they are not persuaded or ordered to play even more. Playing is what children do, people! When your child comes home from school, a parent/guardian should have the children to get out of the house, go outside and play like normal children do; It's what we did when we were younger....Well, after we did our homework and household chores, that is! I'm smiling at the memories now

Now, the lighter side to the story of Jessica, is that she has lost the weight, and even though she's still a bit overweight....She's still making an effort to have a healthy lifestyle. People I cannot express this enough on how unhealthy it is for your child to be obese. It's an unhealthy thing for adults, so you know how hurtful it can be on a child.

Now, I ask you, do you maintain a healthy diet for your children? Do you monitor the sweets, and so called junk foods that your child intakes? What sort of things do you exercise to motivate the health for your children?