CDC Childhood Obesity Statistics - Breeding of Fat Kids

Who knows what the CDC is? How many parents out there really know or have seen the statistics on childhood obesity? Well according to my recent trip to the local Walmart, not many. Take the test for yourself. Next time you go to a populated shopping area - take a look around. Look at the number of kids around you and then count how many are on the border of obesity. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recently published the growing statistics of our nations increasing child obesity problem. "Results from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are obese. Between 1976-1980 and 1999-2000, the prevalence of obesity increased. Between 1999-2000 and 2007-2008 there was no significant trend in obesity prevalence. Among pre-school age children 2-5 years of age, obesity increased from 5 to 10.4% between 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 and from 6.5 to 19.6% among 6-11 year olds. (ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! DO YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS? What are we doing as a nation? What is wrong with us.. must we add high-fructose corn syrup, MSG, artificial sweeteners or rat poison, food colorings: Red Dye, Blue No 1, Yellow No 6, etc. These are made from coal tar and are potent carcinogens,) Among adolescents aged 12-19, obesity increased from 5 to 18.1% during the same period." (Trans Fats: Partially Hydrogenated Soy Bean Oil, margarine, hydrogenated vegetable oils are fats whose molecular structure has been chemically altered in a lab. These are guaranteed to pack on the pounds because your body has no idea what to do with them because they are synthetic. These are associated with heart disease, breast and colon cancer, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol)

What does this mean for our children, well possible health risks such as cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes). "Approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10–15 years were obese adults at age 25 years. Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children. The latter study also found that if overweight begins before 8 years of age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe."

What can you do? As a parent or guardian to help prevent childhood overweight and obesity it's really pretty simple and only requires DISCIPLINE and ACTION:

-Children/Adults should eat 51% raw food, offer and continue to offer a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products

-Show your child the ingredients on the box, if you cannot pronounce or know what the ingredients are don't buy it and certainly don't eat it; demonstrate a no label food is best (foods in their natural state)

-Select lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein

-EVERYONE needs to drink lots of water - why do we have to 'flavor everything' ensure your kids enjoy fresh, clean un-flavored waters

-Serve 100% juice with no added sweeteners

-Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat

-Eat foods in their natural state- the farther away a food is processed away from nature, the less healthy it is for you and the more likely it will make us fat!

-Avoid anything labeled as fat free, no calories, low calorie or no fat

MAKE EATING FUN!! Play games with kids - reward your child with an Organic Apple instead of candy bar! Count the grapes on your plate and divide by the number of carrot sticks! Be a role model and make good choices for yourself... the kids will eat if they are hungry .. and they might just like it too!