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A Dire Warning for our Children: Obesity is on the Rise
By Linda Rogers

Obesity in the children of this country has been on the rise in recent years, and the numbers are enough to concern many health care professionals. Today, as many as one in every five kids can be considered obese by the current standards on weight and obesity. This standard is calculated using the body mass index, also known as the BMI. When the BMI reaches the 95th percentile a person is considered obese. This is true for adults, as well as children and teens. While 20% of kids were labeled obese by the health care industry, another significant percentage was considered overweight. While this category is not as severe in nature, there are still health issues that can arise with being overweight, and the risk of becoming obese from this point is also much greater.

What Causes Obesity in the Children?

Obesity in children can be hereditary, but there are many other factors that contribute to the weight problem in this country that are much easier to solve. First, lack of physical activity can be directly related to the weight problems that are seen in this country. Between the television, computer and video games that vie for a child's attention today, there is much less time or opportunity for outdoor play. The obvious solution to this dilemma is to limit the amount of time your kids spend staring at a screen of any kind, and to encourage them to go outside and ride bikes and scooters, play basketball, and simply run off energy. Parks are abundant in communities today, so regular outings to these locations should be a part of every family's routine.

The second factor that contributes greatly to obesity in children is the abundance of less than healthy choices in food. Between the junk food at the grocery store and the fast food that is available on every corner, fresh fruits and vegetables barely stand a chance. You can help to reverse this trend with your own children by ensuring that there are many healthy selections in your pantry and refrigerator for them to choose from, and modeling good behavior by munching on an apple rather than a cookie. Be aware of the meals that your child's school cafeteria is offering as well. If the menu consists mainly of high calorie, low nutrition items like fast food, talk to your school's governing body about changing the menus, or encourage your child to bring sack lunches.

Obesity in our children is a problem of epidemic proportions today. The good news is that there are steps that parents, educators and health professionals can take to ensure that our kids are as healthy and happy as they can be.

Author Details:
Linda Rogers writes for various websites about obesity and weight loss with a special interest in the growing problem of child obesity.

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