William Penn Life, 2007 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2007-09-01 / 9. szám
HealthPage When it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, the key for you and your family is Finding Balance from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute There's been a lot of talk lately about how much heavier Americans have been getting since the 1970s. Today, approximately 65 percent of adults are overweight or obese. Sixty-one million adult Americans are considered obese. What's more, children are getting heavier as well. The percentage of children and teens that are overweight has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Today, about 17 percent of American children ages 2- 19 are overweight. Extra pounds can add up to health problems, often for life. In adults, overweight and obesity are linked to increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers and other chronic conditions. For children, being overweight also increases their health risks. Type 2 diabetes was once rare in American children—now it accounts for eight to 45 percent of newly diagnosed diabetes cases in children and adolescents. And, overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese as adults. Becoming overweight doesn't happen overnight. It happens over time when the energy we take in by eating is not in balance with the energy we bum from physical activity. However, there are things we can do to prevent overweight and obesity. Get Started As you think about how to approach your family with a plan to eat better, increase physical activity, and reduce screen time, here are some suggestions worth considering: Be a good role model. Research shows that children and teens really do listen to their parents and model their behavior. If you eat well and move more, your children are more likely to follow. Involve younger children in the decisions. Young children love to try new things, even new foods or activities. Talk to your children about making smart food and physical activity choices. It will be easier if Health Links For more information on how you can help each member of your family maintain a healthy weight, visit the We Can section of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s website at: 3 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ healthlpubliclheartlobesityl wecanl everyone can help support each other to eat well and move more. For example, every weekend have one or more of your children pick one physical activity for the whole family to do. Have your younger child come with you to the grocery store to pick out some healthy foods he or she would like to try. Try fresh fruits in season. Summer is a great time to try peaches and strawberries as snacks. Have older children make decisions. Older children might not be as open to you telling them what to do, so tailor your request to the child's age and temperament. For example, for teens who are learning to be more independent, you can explain that you want them to be more active. Then ask them what they want to do, rather than tell them what they should be doing. You also could let them know that you bought some healthier snacks for them to try and tell them you trust them to prepare something healthy when they're hungry. Make dietary changes slowly. If your family normally drinks whole milk, try buying two percent low-fat milk and see if they notice a difference. After a few weeks, try reducing the fat content again to one percent low-fat milk. Too drastic a change all at once may upset your family; introduce new foods gradually. 6 William Penn Life, September 2007
