Generation after generation-bigger and bigger….

March 12, 2009
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obese children

Some of you may have seen my comment a few weeks back on the Oprah show, about how this is possibly the first generation EVER that may not outlive their parents, and how upsetting that is.  I received quite a few similar feelings/comments after posting that so I thought I would put a post on here to see what YOU think about it. 

 First of all, the reason obesity is so severe has nothing to do with just the aesthetic appearance of a person, but more so the health factors associated,which includes:

  1. Coronary heart disease
  2. Type 2 diabetes
  3. Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
  4. Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  5. Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
  6. Stroke
  7. Liver and Gallbladder disease
  8. Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
  9. Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
  10. Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

(source:http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/)

Children learn all of their habits from birth, including eating habits,from their parents and the environment we give them.  That being said, I think its time we adults take an active role in ensuring our younger generations have better eating habits, understand the importance of living healthy lifestyles, and why they can’t live on happy meals!

Here are some local organizations/articles that have taken the initiative to help younger generations should you or someone you know be interested in getting more information:

Action FOR HEALTHY KIDS

DKWIO

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN

 

Encourage your children to get out and play, join a sport team.  Start them at a early age so it becomes second nature to them like brushing their teeth.  If they don’t like veggies, put some cheese on it!  Make it fun and change the way of thinking for being healthy.  Got tips?  Leave a comment and let us know!!!

This article brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments Royal Oak Michigan, Urbane Apartments Ferndale Michigan,Urbane Apartments Birmingham Michigan, and Urbane Apartments Dearborn Michigan

Monica

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This entry was posted on March 12, 2009 at 9:00 am and is filed under Play, uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

  • http://www.laferle.com/ Cindy L

    This is upsetting — the thought that our kids are so unhealthy, in spite of so much emphasis on fitness and body image in our country. Dr. Paul Ehrmann of Royal Oak has been campaigning to stop childhood obesity in Michigan, and has a new book out on it. I think he’s doing a signing this weekend at Barnes and Noble (?)

  • Monica

    Cindy, thank you for your comment….
    Yes it is very upsetting, as much money as people spend on junk food and fast food , and with technology making our younger generations so lazy…its time to get back to the basics. Kids would rather sit indoors playing x box while munching on doritos, then get out and socialize with their peers in a game of soccer or kickball. I am working on some adult bootcamp spring/summer groups and am in the beginning stages of putting together youth groups as well. Parents SHOULD dish the money to get their kids personal trainers (how sad does that sound) and re-teach them the proper way to live a healthy and still FUN lifestyle.

  • Brandon

    Great post, Monica. This is such an important issue and it does seem like schools seem to make cuts in the arts and physical education first.

  • Flez

    Parents are often negligent and even complicit in their kids’ unhealthy lifestyles. When I see a fat kid eating a McDonald’s Happy Meal, I instinctively look for the bird brain parent. Often they are no where to be found (surprise!).

    My kids are fit and healthy because we eat healthily and because we drink water with our meals rather than some sugar syrup liquid.

    Also, my wife and I both run (she much more than I) which certainly makes an impression on our kids.

    Parents – they’re the worst!

  • Monica

    Brandon
    Much thanks for your comment, yes this is SUCH an important issue and so many parents try and take the easy way out when it comes to their children, which only harms them and their kids to come.

    Flez
    Thank you for your comments. It is so nice to see a parent for once who not only acknowledges when other parents are setting unhealthy lifestyles, but that you are also living by example with your children and keeping them AWAY FROM POP aka the devil….I could go on such a long tangent about the effects of sugar and childhood behavior/obedience it would take up the whole page haha. I am a firm believer against a lot of these so called adhd medications, and believe it all comes back to what we put in our bodies so THANK YOU for being a great parent and living a healthy lifestyle for you your wife and your children. Hopefully they too will do the same throughout their lives and continue with their children.

  • Matt

    There are so many issues that resonate when talking about this problem, laziness, the “not enough time” excuse, bad habits, emphasis on food and taste in our culture, etc.

    I think one of the most ringing things is that we have created this problem as a country. Due to the laws of supply and demand it costs less money to drive to MacDonald’s to buy a Big Mac (540 calories, 29 grams of fat) than it does to buy a head of broccoli (60 calories, 0 grams of fat) of the same weight. Less money and hard times means people buying cheap food is only going to get worse. Especially for the impoverished.
    Urban farming is going to become a big issue in Detroit over the next 10 years.

  • Monica

    Matt
    Much thanks for your comments, you hit on some key factors here. Excuse,bad habits, and blaming it on the genes are the 3 top reasons I hear from clients who approach me wanting to lose weight…to most extents it ALL BS….there is always time for loving ourselves and wanting to live, but our society is all about the quick fix and the a-z approach. So backwards.

    It too amazes me how it costs more to be healthy, then it does to eat junk. I was walking into costo the other day and right in the very beginning by the entrance door they have the junk food/cakes/bakery items. This is a psychological marketing scheme to hit peoples ethos/hunger right from the get -go. TISK TISK AMERICA

  • http://www.shyra.wordpress.com Shyra

    Hi Monica,

    Thank you for this article. We HAVE to get rid of this problem! I am posting a link to this post on my blog. Sorry it took so long, I’ve been going through a lot this year, but things are looking up. Take care!

    Shyra

  • Pingback: Tuesday’s Tips-06Jul2009-Obese Kids/Link-”Generation After Generation Getting Bigger-Monica-UrbaneApts « Through Mother Shyra’s Eyes



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