It is time to talk about obesity, but not in the way you might think. I want to talk specifics, specifically childhood obesity. Did you know that as of March 2010, September is deemed National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month? This month long awareness campaign was not brought on because of the chubby kids running around the playground who still have their "baby fat". We are talking full on medical obesity.
As adult obesity continues to rise, there should be no surprise that childhood obesity is also on the rise. Healthy children don't magically become obese once they become adults. This is not to say that skinny children are the picture of health or that healthy children will not become obese as adults. Some people will blame this unfortunate trend on the prevalence of fast food chains and the quality of food served in schools. Others blame economic status, healthier food options cost more. Not to mention all the fascinating and entertaining technology that keeps kids indoors.
Most kids today would rather stay inside than play outside. Video games replace playgrounds, the internet replaces games of tag and hide-n-seek. Children used to be known for their endless supply of youthful energy. Now they are just as sedentary, if not more, than there adult predecessors. So how do we fix this problem?
It is easy to say "don't let children eat so much fast food", "make school lunches healthier", or "enroll kids in organized sports". The blank stares and confused looks show up when trying to come up with ideas of how to battle the convenience of fast, cheap, and tasty food. Many parents have such busy schedules and little time to cook. Where do school boards find the funds for healthier menu items when budget cuts are slashing fine arts programs, physical education, and even teachers?! Some children just aren't interested in sports activities, so how do parents engage them in physical activities?
While I have no specific answers to the health problems of today's youth, I do understand the need for an solution. The next generation is the first to have a predicted shorter life span than their parents. More and more teenagers are being treated for conditions that are normally found in people 3 and 4 times their age, such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and high risk of stroke. This awareness campaign is nothing to take lightly.
So if you have children, little brothers and sisters, or cousins, please pay attention to what they are eating and keep them active. Losing excess weight and keeping it off is not just for vanity purposes (which is an entire other topic of its own). It is and should be about leading a healthy, disease and pain free life. It is time we brighten the dim future we have so far provided the children of today.~
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