Childhood Obesity and How to Overcome It

We all suffer at one point or another in the battle against weight gain, but who is hurting the most? Our children are reaping the effects of our eating habits and are becoming more overweight each day. Childhood obesity has skyrocketed and has reached all-time highs. Obesity has doubled in our children and has tripled for American teens in the past 20 years. It is reported that approximately 25 million children and adolescents are overweight in the U.S.

How do you gain control of this and how do you know if your child's weight gain is normal? Growing children generally need more nutrients than adults do. Despite this, most children are eating nutrient shallow foods that are packed with unnecessary fats and sugars and lack the vitamins and minerals needed to support healthy growth. In this fast-paced society most parents are too busy to cook or provide their children with healthy foods. Instead, children get pre-packaged foods and snacks. Along with this, children are far more sedentary than they used to be. As a result of video games, television and computers, children are not as involved in recreational activities and sports. While genetics or disorders play a big role in a person's weigh, combine unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle and you have yourself an overweight individual.