As many of my regular viewers to this web blog know, there are many factors contributing to childhood obesity. I post daily here about it, whether news print articles, opinions, feedback, or just personal opinion.
Recently, I wrote an article for Yahoo! (click here) about childhood obesity. I started searching for sources for this article, and received over 100 responses to the question, “What do you think caused the rise in childhood obesity?” Responses came from professional and Olympic athletes, fitness experts, health experts, nutritionist, and parents.
I was unable to use everyone’s feedback, but thought it would be great to post some of their responses on my blog in a new web series, “What Causes Childhood Obesity.” I hope that you enjoy the opinions here from various individuals. Please remember, my including their posts does not necessarily mean I agree or endorse their opinion, rather, a place to share other people’s thoughts.
I believe that childhood obesity is on the rise because it is a function of how the the parents choose to live their lives. The parents make poor choices when it comes to food, exercise and outdoor activity and it carries over into what they model for their children. A parent who drinks soda creates an environment where the children want soda. A parent who doesn’t drink soda, minimizes the exposure their children have to soda. You can carry this over to the foods they choose to eat for both snacks and meals. Couple this with children who do not see their parents exercise, jog, run, bike, etc., and they learn that it is ok to sit inside and watch TV or play on the computer.
One easy change is to eat healthy foods with your children. Make it a point to introduce a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Encourage them to try them more than once, but once your child has expressed a dislike of some foods, do no continue to force them to eat the given food. Wait a bit and try introducing it again later. When your children see you eating and drinking healthy, they are more likely to learn those habits themselves.
Brandon Henry, Owner Performance Strength & Conditioning