From Your Health Journal…..”I strongly urge my guests here to visit an excellent article written by The Lane Report of Kentucky, which we are reviewing on Your Health Journal today. The author of this article brings up some excellent points between facts and perceptions. In Kentucky, many parents feel their children are at the correct weight, but reports coming in about their weight tell a different story. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, 37 percent of school-age children in Kentucky are overweight or obese. Yet most Kentucky parents (76 percent) think their child weighs about the right amount and few (14 percent) think their child weighs too much. This is very common, not only in Kentucky, but throughout the US and World. The truth is, we cannot really tell if a child is overweight simply by looking at them. A slim child may be overweight to some extent, especially if they do not exercise and eat poorly. Their body mass may not be lean body mass, rather fat mass – – even if they appear thin. So, what can we take from this report? All children need to eat properly, exercise, and practice good health habits to lead a healthy life. It is a team effort, as parents need to lead by example, and educate their children on the proper techniques to a healthy lifestyle.”
From the article…..
As part of its Kentucky Parent Survey, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky released new data about children’s health behaviors. The parental perceptions measured by the poll provide valuable insight into the health habits and behaviors of Kentucky’s children, which often fell short of recommended benchmarks.
“Our children’s habits and behaviors impact their health today and shape their quality of life as they grow,” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president/CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “When kids eat poorly and don’t get enough physical activity, it increases their risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases. This poll data helps us understand what parents think about the behaviors that are so critical to health.”
According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, 37 percent of school-age children in Kentucky are overweight or obese. Yet most Kentucky parents (76 percent) think their child weighs about the right amount and few (14 percent) think their child weighs too much.
One strategy being used to reduce childhood obesity in Kentucky is called 5-2-1-0. The numbers correspond to behavior recommendations: each day, children should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, limit screen time to no more than two hours, have one hour of physical activity and zero sugar-sweetened beverages.
More than half of Kentucky’s children (56 percent) are watching more than the maximum recommended amount of “screen time” per day, according to their parents. Screen time refers to time spent watching television, playing video games or surfing the internet.
To read the full article…..Click here