Let's Put An End To Childhood Obesity: Let's Get Parents On Board

Typically, preschoolers and adults have little in common, but when it comes to obesity and weight-related illnesses, the overlap is rapidly growing. Serious health issues like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high-cholesterol are no longer adult-only diseases, and children as young as three are suffering as a result of these weight-related conditions. According to a recent publication by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 3 children are overweight or obese by their fifth birthday. And while Americans across the country will have to deal with the consequences of the ever-growing numbers of obese children, minorities and low income communities suffer the brunt of it.

More often than not, low-income families shop for groceries at local stores that offer a pitiful variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh foods are placed on the backburner in favor of cheap, energy-dense options and sugar sweetened beverages like sports drinks and sodas. Parents and caregivers need to pay close attention to children’s diet and exercise. For families lacking the means to afford healthy food, there are organizations like WIC that help make healthy food a more realistic option. In order to combat childhood obesity, adults need to encourage healthier food habits in youngsters and teach by example. Here’s the catch: children who grow up eating unhealthily often become obese adults. As heavy adults, they continue to eat a poor diet and then pass those bad habits along to their kids. The cycle repeats. To put a stop to this, or at least attempt to fight the childhood obesity epidemic, parents need to recognize the importance of healthy diet and exercise so they can pass that knowledge along to their children.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign is a wonderful resource for taking steps towards ending childhood obesity. Children don’t choose what they eat and can’t choose where they live. Therefore, it is truly our responsibility to put them on a path to a healthy future.