for fun alternatives to watching TV. Or search the following categories:According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one in four children in the United States is currently overweight. Research shows that this epidemic is linked to the rise in other health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, and stroke.Health experts and parents are scrambling to understand the cause of this rise in childhood obesity so as to develop better methods to stop it.
While genetics certainly play a role in a childs development, many people now suggest that child obesity may be the result of heavy marketing from the fast food industry. Read on to learn more about child obesity and what you can do to reduce your childs risk.
Fast Food
Some people question the link between childhood obesity and fast food, but researchers have shown that the rise in obesity in the United States has grown along the same lines as the rise in fast food consumption. And theres no question that almost all fast food is extremely high in fat. Heres a look at some of the most popular choices:
- A Big Mac, Super Size fries and a large Coke at McDonalds now contains 1500 calories,about 40 percent of those from fat.
- A typical Kentucky Fried Chicken Meal of chicken drumsticks, coleslaw, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a Pepsi contains 920 calories, 36 grams of fat, and 1590 milligrams of sodium.
- A Taco Supreme with Pintos and Cheese from Taco Bell contains 400 calories with over 50 percent of those from saturated fat.
What makes these foods even worse is that they are heavily marketed to Americas children. It may seem innocent at first, but giving a toy with a meal, and offering play areas makes children and families think positively about these fast food meals. In reality, a meal at a fast food restaurant that is extremely high in fat, sugar, and salt leads to a rise in child obesity.
How Does TV Lead To Obesity In Children?
Watching television leads to obesity in children by replacing other, more active pursuits, such as walking, biking, or simply playing outdoors. All television shows, even educational non-commercial shows, replace physical activity. And watching TV is a sedentary activity that causes the metabolic rate to go even lower than when one is at rest. This means that you can burn more calories by just sitting quietly and doing nothing than you can when you sit and watch TV.
Plus roughly two-thirds of the 20,000 TV ads an average child sees each year are for food and most are for unhealthy foods. The majority of children who watch health related commercials believe what the ads say, even if the ads do not give accurate or balanced information.
- In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Ross Anderson looked at the TV watching habits of over four thousand children between the ages of eight and sixteen. Anderson found that one-fourth of American children watched four or more hours of television a day. These children weighed more and had a higher percentage of body fat than those who watched fewer than two hours of TV a day.
Overcoming Child Obesity
Now that you know how fast food and TV lead to obesity in children, help your kids by following these easy tips:
- Set A Good Example: Children learn from watching what we do rather than listening to what we say. If you regularly hit up the drive-through, and spend a lot of time in front of the TV, its likely your children will too.
- Set Limits: Its OK to introduce restrictions on the amount of junk food theyre allowed to eat, and the amount of time they spend in front of the tube.
- Get Moving: Get your kids active by making exercise a family activity. Take a walk around the block, go for a hike, or get up and dance. Any kind of activity will benefit your childs health.
- Give Them Support: If your child is suffering from serious weight issues, consider a getting them a personal fitness coach or nutritionist.
About the Author:
Dr. Edward F. Group III is the founder of Global Healing Center, Inc. He continues to develop, sell and evaluate exclusively high-end natural and organic healthcare products to support a wide range of health conditions. For more information, please visit www.slimirex.com and www.weightlossobesity.com.
TYTV Comments: This is all sound advice. However, Dr. Group neglects to take addiction into account. Kids who are addicted to TV may need parents to provide stronger measures to get their viewing under control.
