Parents Causing Childhood Obesity

This month I decided to get in shape. I write for a living so I sit most of the time. My butt has felt the repercussions of that sitting and so has my back. So, I've been on a role doing research and creating a site called Write the Weight Off, a site by and for writers wanting to lose weight or get in shape, whether they are obese or not.

Naturally, I have encouraged my son to join me as I try to get in shape. It only makes sense that I would consider how my unhealthy habits have an impact on my son and his habits. As I was doing my research on children getting in shape and safe methods to do so, I happen to learn that September 2010 is Childhood Obesity Month. I had no idea that it was such a problem.

The media would have us believe that we are all supposed to weigh 90 pounds at 5'5" or something ridiculous like that. Since we allow these images to modify our way of thinking, it's easy to see how we could lose of site of being in shape and focus only on how we look. But really, it's more than just looks and it starts at home.

Children have access to technology that may be an every day thing to them, but didn't exist way back when. You know, back when kids had chores, people ate out of the garden and mothers were ashamed to cook their children t.v. dinners? Back then, you would not find the average child inside on a summer day, glued to an Xbox. Instead, they would be out doing chores or running around with their friends. I blame the parents, including myself for allow this to happen. I thought my dad was mean when he forced us to go outside and play rather than sitting in the air conditioning watching t.v., but I can see the benefits of such simple instruction now.

We as parents need to become active in the health of our children. Honestly, unless their is a medical issue or a genetic predisposition (which can be assisted with diet and exercise anyhow), there is no reason for a child to be obese. It's unhealthy enough to lead into medical issues that have no business being associated with children, such as childhood obesity and diabetes.

Healthy living starts as young as you want it to. Leading by example is the best way to teach our children how to eat correctly. It's time for parents to stop making excuses and start cleaning out the cabinets. No, your children will not starve just because they don't like the fact that what you made for dinner didn't come out of a box. In fact, there is every indication that issues like autism have a correlation with junk food. If you don't believe me, just observe the next child you see that has childhood obesity and refuses to eat anything but ready made and fast food. Coincidence? I think not. And I'm not picking on children with childhood obesity and autism. There are entire groups of medical issues that wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for our unhealthy eating habits.

Even if your child is not afflicted with medical issues like autism or childhood obesity, what better measure could you take than prevention? It's time to turn off the television, get up and move around. Sure, it may take up part of your day, but do you really want to be the one responsible for your child having medical issues like childhood obesity, diabetes, heart problems and social issues, just to name a few of the things that can be caused bu unhealthy habits?

References: http://www.writetheweightoff.org