Kids are getting fatter
Who’s responsible for turning things around?
In my opinion, the “self esteem” movement with children, which began in the late 60s, has had a lot to do with our looming obesity epidemic in America. The idea was to not be so negative! Don’t call somebody out because they are lazy and underperform, that might hurt their feelings. And, everyone knows what happens when you get your feelings hurt - you think less of yourself… it lowers your self esteem.
With that mindset everyone became overly cautious about confronting the obvious. “I know Jonny’s getting fat, but he’s at that important time in his development where we need to be careful that we don’t damage his self esteem.”
Obesity now affects approximately 60 million people in the United States. Over one-third of women between the ages of 20 and 74 are obese. More than 108 million adults are either obese or overweight. This means roughly 3 out of 5 Americans carry an unhealthy amount of excess weight.
With more and more processed food and less and less activity, the number of obese people in America has steadily increased since the 1960s. In only a few years from now, if current habits do not change, obesity is predicted to be at epidemic levels in the U.S.
Because I am physically fit, and by virtue of what I do, I am mostly around fit people, I tend to bristle at those statistics saying, ”Come on now, it can’t be that bad.” When I start feeling that way I’ve learned a quick method to snap me back into reality—I go to the mall!
In my opinion, the typical shopping mall is the best vantage point from which to view the “average American”. Take my word on this. Next time you’re at the mall, sit down on one of the side benches and watch the people go by. As you’re watching, do the math. It doesn’t take a huge government grant research study to see that Americans, especially our youth.
With obesity, comes the increased risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and breast, colon, and prostate cancer. In addition, obesity has been linked to many mental health conditions. Health experts say that even losing 10 to 15 percent of your body weight can dramatically decrease the risk of developing these serious conditions.
Some years ago doctors in certain parts of the country asked pharmaceutical companies, “Please make the hypodermic needles longer and sharper so that we can get the medication through [all that American fat]!”
Twenty years ago, in my lectures on health and fitness, I predicted that the “Dumpling Decade” was coming. Much to my dismay I was correct—it’s here big time! It was not, I must admit, a difficult prediction to make based on even a casual observation of how kids eat, and how little they move.
The health of our nation’s children is in jeopardy. The prevalence of overweight young people has doubled in recent decades. Even at young ages, obesity is not just a cosmetic issue. Almost two-thirds of overweight youth have at least one additional risk factor for heart disease, including high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Overweight kids also may suffer with sleep apnea or bone and joint problems, according to the CDC.
If not dealt with, these obese, or soon to be obese, children will severely tax our already struggling healthcare system. The problem is both nutritional and fitness related. On the nutritional side, a large proportion of children’s caloric intake comes from processed foods seriously lacking in nutritional value.
Research shows that teenage boys spend on average around 58 minutes a day playing video games. Girls were only slightly behind at 44 minutes a day. USA Today reports that teens spend about 16 percent of their time each day surfing the Internet or e-mailing. And then there is television, that omnipresent invader of our lives. And let’s not forget Twitter and texting.
Physically, many children are woefully inactive. With schools cutting back on physical education classes—and some eliminating them altogether—the prospects for children getting enough exercise during the day are not good. Over 55% of our children ages 5-8 are obese! Over 78% of elementary through high school students flunk the basic fitness test given by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.
This is tragic and totally unnecessary. There is no sensible reason why schools should cut-down or cut-out physical education classes or recess periods that focus on high levels of physical activity. It only makes sense to increase physical activity for children when they live in a society that is increasingly more sedentary.
When I was in elementary school, by the time I had finished two of any given day’s recesses, I had exercised more than many kids exercise today in a month.
With that said, however, I am not a proponent of our government solving this problem. One, because the government cannot solve this problem, and two, because this is a parental issue! It begins in the home.
It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure their children are exercising and eating nutritionally. Without question the most powerful influence on children is the behavior they see modeled by their parents. If Mom and Dad are lazy and overweight, there is a very good chance the children will be also.
