By Dr. Ira Shapiro
It’s official. Global obesity has reached epidemic proportions. The latest studies show that nearly 25 percent of all adults worldwide will be obese by 2025.
Unfortunately, the rest of the of world is catching up to the United States in a contest we really don’t want to win. The obesity rate for American adults has gone from 15 to 30 percent over the past 35 years with childhood obesity more than tripling.
According to researchers at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, 33 percent of our children were overweight in 2014 and 17 percent were obese. Look around; the Alliance for Healthier Generation estimates that one in four children in New Jersey are now obese, which includes children in the 95th percentile of any body mass index BMI weight scale. For instance, a 10-year-old boy, who is 4 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 102 pounds, is not playfully overweight. He is obese. That is the hard truth.
Quite simply, we spend way too much time sitting and eating junk, and not enough moving, playing and eating the right foods in the proper quantities. Bad habits for adults that are even worse for kids and adolescents. Overweight children are not only more prone to stress, sadness, low self-esteem and bullying, they are also likely to become overweight adults suffering from any number of chronic conditions ranging from diabetes to heart disease.
But, it’s never too late or too early to set children on the course to a healthier life. Help your kids find exercises they enjoy and encourage them to workout — or, even better, workout with them.
Remember, however, that activities that adults may prefer, such as walking on a treadmill, may not excite a child. Experts say that children engage in physical activities for three reasons: to have fun, make friends and learn something new. They will not run for 30 minutes without stopping. Instead, they play in short bursts, stop, recover and then run again.
First, help children find activities they enjoy. Some shy from sports, where they do not do well such as dancing, skipping or swimming. Start simple and work up. For example, strength training programs tend to be popular with overweight children, who can lift considerably more weight than other kids. Building on this foundation, children can be gradually enticed in aerobic activities incorporated into their resistance-training programs. Be aware, however, that strength training programs require appropriate technique and precautions. Be sure to provide the appropriate coaching.
Next, involve children in the preparation of meals. Our relationship with food starts in childhood. In addition to modeling healthy behaviors, parents need to help children develop healthy eating habits. Many homes make the planning and preparation of meals a family event. Include children in shopping and food preparation. Have the child start thinking, “I am doing this to be strong and healthy; I am accepting responsibility for my own health and growth.” The confidence achieved in taking charge of one’s own life, even at a very early age, cannot be underestimated.
Dr. Ira A. Shapiro is the director of the Plaza Chiropractic Center in Old Bridge. For more information, call 732-723-0023 or visit www.plazachiro.com.
