"Energy drinks and energy shots, heavily marketed to adolescents and young adults, accounted for $6.9 billion in sales in the United States in 2012. A 2011 AAP* statement cautioned that children and adolescents should not consume energy drinks because of their high content of caffeine and sugar."
--Andrew Weil, MD, from Mind over Meds
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| Kids enrolled a Growing Healthy Kids education program meet local farmers in Vero Beach, FL. |
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children who have obesity are more likely to have:
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
- Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
- Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea.
- Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort.
- Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux.
Other health risks related to childhood obesity include:
Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.
- Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life.
- Social problems such as bullying and stigma.
Future health risks include:
Children who have obesity are more likely to become adults with obesity.
Adult obesity is
associated with increased risk of a number of serious health conditions
including heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
If children have obesity, their obesity and disease risk factors in adulthood are more like to be more severe.
Here are 5 tips parents can use to teach your kids to eat for life:
1. Take your kids to local farmers markets and meet the
people who are growing food near you.
2. Every week, let the kids pick out a vegetable or fruit
they have not tried; research recipes and prepare it together.
3. Read food labels and choose foods with less ingredients,
not more.
4. Use foods that contain dietary fiber in every meal (i.e., oats and fruit for breakfast, green salads for lunch, roasted veggies and whole grains like brown rice for dinner).
5. Use “The Nancy Rule” to choose healthy breads and pastas: 4 or more grams of dietary fiber per serving and the
first ingredient includes the word “whole”.
With
love and gratitude,
Nancy L.
Heinrich, MPH
Founder,
Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.
*American Academy of Pediatrics
