Childhood Obesity Ollie the otter says being overweight can lead to health problems. If you want to know why more and more kids are overweight today than ever before, read on. The answers are in what they eat and their lack of physical activity.
The food connection
The physical side
Families are very busy. This may lead to less time for healthy meal planning and less time to eat as a family at the table.
Today’s children are the least active in history. Few of our schools require physical education anymore. We have fewer children walking or riding their bicycles to school.
That’s why fast foods have become so popular. Processed foods allow us to get dinner on the table faster. We eat fewer fresh vegetables because it takes longer to cook them.
Children watch television or use the computer instead of going outside and playing. The American Academy of Pediatrics says limit screen time to less than 2 hours per day. They also recommend 1 hour of exercise per day.
We often eat on the run. “I’ll grab a burger and fries” is a common answer to a quick meal. And fast food restaurants and makers of sweet treats and other snack foods often market to children. We also program children to “clean your plate”—that wasting food is a bad thing. Portion control is more important.
There are plenty of parks for playing, walking or riding bicycles.
To find parks near you, visit: www.gwinnettcounty.com and look for the park guide, under services.
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Gwinnett Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (770) 995-0823 • www.gwinnettpeds.com