What do our children do? Do they run outside, play softball in
the street and ride their bicycles up and down the sidewalk? That's what
we did as kids. On the other hand, do they sit down at the computer to
do their homework, get a few video games in before dinner and then sit
down to watch television? For many children, it's the second set of
activities.
How
does diet affect our children? Do our children eat vegetables grown in
their own yard, take a lunch to school and eat fruit for dessert? On the
other hand, do they eat frozen waffles, a high fat school lunch and
then takeout for dinner? Once again, many follow the latter pattern.
How
can we protect our children? The best way is to be more like the first
statements and less like the latter. The problem is that it's a very
difficult way to go.
As I said in the summary, the biggest problem
in the war against childhood obesity is inactivity. There are so many
electronic devices available that our kids are more likely to text the
person they're sitting next to rather than speak.
Should they give
up all of these devices? That isn't really the answer either. Instead,
we parents need to set limits. That's the role of a parent. We should
also encourage our children to be active.
There's a second part to
that. Take replace "children" with "we adults." How many of us still go
outside and play? How often do we prepare and eat meals with fresh
fruits and vegetables? Our children can't learn to be active and eat
well unless they are taught. They need to be taught both by our words
and by our deeds.
Here's a suggestion. Get out the old badminton
set (or basketball or softball) and play *with* the kids. Find ways to
serve healthy foods that can be made quickly at home. When we as a
nation of parents can do that, we can end childhood obesity.
