Our Children At Risk: Child Obesity From Too Much Food & Not Enough Play

According to some statistics up to 25 percent of American children are overweight. Where did things go so drastically wrong that we should end up with so many youths being classified as overweight? Is it really just the PlayStation video games and the massive consumption of high-sugar foods? Are these the only reasons for obesity? Should we be satisfied with these answers, accept them, and move on to the next problem?

Is this lifestyle really any different than the ones that a large percentage of adults live out daily at their desk jobs? Why isn't every adult obese? Oh wait, didn't you just read that over 50% of adults are obese? Apparently our original hypothesis is correct, that the PlayStations and sugary snacks are likely to blame, and correspondingly, the office computer and doughnuts are to blame for the situation many adults find themselves in.

From the American Diabetes Association comes this report: "Our children and teens are becoming more overweight and at greater risk for disease". A recent survey showed that increasing numbers of American children and teens are overweight, continuing a trend that began two decades ago. It is believed that overweight children are at a higher risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other serious health problems. In a related story, a growing number of children and teens were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Obesity (from a combination of a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits) and genetics are to blame, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Most important are the long-term health implications for adolescent obesity. There is a clear association between obesity and the development of non-insulin dependent (Type 2) diabetes (Kannel et al., 1996). In 1998 10.5 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes (90% Type 2). It was suggested that it costs $11000 per year in health care for each individual with diabetes compared to $2500 per year for non-diabetics (Harris, 1998).

Obesity is also a serious risk factor for type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and others. Researchers have also found that a strong relationship between fatness and CHD risk factors in adolescents and they concluded that the primary prevention of CHD during childhood should therefore concentrate upon preventing or reversing undue weight gain (Boreham et al., 2001).

So where is the answer to our problem of obesity? Where can one start to change? Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have concluded that the chances of a child developing obesity rises significantly when they increase their daily servings of sugar-sweetened drinks. According to the study, published in The Lancet (a medical journal), even a mild increase in daily soft drink consumption (high glycemic carbohydrates) gives a child a 60 percent greater chance of becoming obese. However, an increase in diet soda consumption made the children less likely to become obese.

Daily participation of high school physical education classes in the United States has decreased from 42 to 25%. Furthermore, many coaches complain about the lack of overall athletic ability displayed by kids today despite the incredible performances by individual athletes. Adolescents need to find some sort of regular physical activity because it is essential for sedentary young adults to get moving.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Mens Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com