The Future of Our Children’s Health

If you just look around you, it does not take long to notice that there is an epidemic of deterioration in our children’s health today. As an educator and grandmother, I am concerned with where our society is headed in the future and how many children will suffer the consequences of poor eating choices, chemically altered food, and our changing environmental issues.

Just think in the last 20-30 years of your own life, how things have changed. Our world is continually changing and I personally, want to be one of the ones leading the charge to keep our families healthy. This is why I do what I do and have such a mission of helping others to make better choices for themselves and their families.

This is not only a choice of health, but of financial concern as well. How many families do you know today that $500.00 would make a big difference in their month? That’s a car note, groceries, help with daycare & bill paying, etc.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves, our children and our families? It all starts with you. I encourage you to take a look at your surroundings. Look in your pantry, refrigerator, etc. Is it nutritionally good or just fun filling foods that are processed and easily purchased to heat and eat? I’m not a fan of the microwave. Anything that can zap the nutrients right out of our foods is not recommended. I do realize people are busy and it takes preparation and time to prepare nutritious meals. This is why I have put out an article on meal prep planning that’s easy and you can be prepared for the week ahead. You can check it out here right now.

Here are some pretty alarming statistics from the American Psychological Association.

The childhood obesity epidemic is a serious public health problem that increases morbidity, mortality, and has substantial long term economic and social costs. The rates of obesity in America’s children and youth have almost tripled in the last quarter century. Approximately 20% of our youth are now overweight with obesity rates in preschool age children increasing at alarming speed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled among children ages 2 to 5 (5.0% to 12.4%) and ages 6 to 11 (6.5% to 17.0%). In teens ages 12 to 19, prevalence rates have tripled (5.0% to 17.6%). Obesity in childhood places children and youth at risk for becoming obese as adults and associated poor health such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer. Prevention efforts must focus on reducing excess weight gain as children grow up.

Today’s children, ages 8 to 18, consume multiple types of media (often simultaneously) and spend more time (44.5 hours per week) in front of computer, television, and game screens than any other activity in their lives except sleeping. Research has found strong associations between increases in advertising for non-nutritious foods and rates of childhood obesity. Most children under age 6 cannot distinguish between programming and advertising and children under age 8 do not understand the persuasive intent of advertising. Advertising directed at children this young is by its very nature exploitative. Children have a remarkable ability to recall content from the ads to which they have been exposed. Product preference has been shown to occur with as little as a single commercial exposure and to strengthen with repeated exposures. Product preferences affect children’s product purchase requests and these requests influence parents’ purchasing decisions.

Let’s take care of our children today and for the future.

If you haven’t picked up my 20 Easy to Prepare Healthy Snacks, you can get it here now!

If you or someone you know is struggling with their weight, don’t let it continue being an issue. Get my 3 Steps Lifestyle Information Kit here today. Start now on your healthy journey of living and not just surviving. We need to reach out and help one another in this struggle of obesity in our world today.