Obesity in America
Why Childhood Obesity is Increasing and What We Can Do About It
Sep 3rd
There is considerable hype in the press about the incidence of childhood obesity. As usual, stories abound with calls for government intervention and large scale social changes. But apart from the over the top hype, there are some basic facts that remain.
With the increase in the availability and lower cost of food, at the same time, convenience foods, fast food establishments and snacks in our stores everywhere have made it all the more likely that many will consume too many calories.
With the popularity of the computer and internet, children spend a greater percentage of time being sedentary than in the past. TV and talking on the phone, of course, have been popular for decades. But with the addition of the internet, hours of physical activity per week has declined for many children, and adults I might add.
The result is that children today are on average heavier than they were. They also tend to consume more foods high in complex sugars and fat, and less fiber, fruits and vegetables. The effect for some children is obesity.
Obesity is measured somewhat differently for children than for adults, as a result of their rapidly changing bodies and metabolic rates. Children often experience growth spurts that would skew any measurement that the Body Mass Index as used by adults. Instead of using the BMI alone as a starting point, BMI is combined with age and gender to create a more accurate picture.
Where an adult would be considered obese with a BMI of 30 or greater, the Center for Disease Control charts would designate a child as obese at the 95th percentile. The two are roughly equivalent, but it is necessary to look at the charts for a more careful breakdown.
Percentage of body fat is another important measurement and here again the numbers differ by sex. An obese boy would be identified as one whose body fat was 25% or more of total body weight. For girls the number is 32% of body fat as a percentage of total weight.
One major reason for the difference is simply that females naturally have a higher percentage of body fat. For adult males the number is roughly 15% for a healthy, fit individual. But for women the number is around 27%.
The way to reduce body fat and excess weight for obese children, and adults, involves a partnership of proper diet and regular exercise. This will usually involve some lifestyle changes. These are often easier to implement for younger children, and have the added advantage of establishing good habits that typically carry on into adulthood.
Start on the road to good health at a young age and it will be easier to maintain in later years. Our children look to us for guidance. From experience children from a very young age love nothing more than to participate in family activities and will follow your example, good or bad. Introduce a healthy diet and lifestyle sooner rather than later. Remember it is never too late to make changes and the great thing about children is that they are very adaptable.
Why You Fail to Lose Weight – 3 Big Myths of Weight Loss
Sep 3rd
To reach your weight loss goals, you need to take a closer look at what you have been doing so far. You may have had little success in losing weight because you have been following common beliefs that are in fact untrue and do not help you to lose weight at all. By separating myth from reality, it will help you stay focused on your goals instead of expecting unrealistic results.
All Carbohydrates Are Bad For Your Body
Totally eliminating the carbohydrates from your diet is crucial to have a balanced diet. Instead of cutting down all carbohydrates on your diet, incorporate complex carbohydrates because it has more fiber than simple carbohydrates have. Fiber is very important to lose your weight effectively. Limit your simple carbohydrate intake like white bread and sugary foods but do not you ever feel that all foods are off limits. The key is to have everything in moderation.
I Do Not Need Exercise To Lose Weight
This statement is totally untrue. No matter how excellent your diet program is but without exercise it is not that effective. The more exercise you do, more calories you will burn. It can help you lose your weight in a shorter period of time and it builds up your muscle which in turn burns the fat.
So Long As It Is Healthy I Can Have As Much As I Want
Many diets have made dieters believed that you can have as much as you want if the food is good for the body. Once you learn to control your intake you will be able to maintain your weight even after you have achieved your weight reduction goal.
Diet myths are quite tempting but having healthy eating plan do wonders to your body. To truly change your eating habits and lose your weight effectively, it is important to identify myths from reality.
To make it easier to lose weight, there are some weight loss patches that can help you with your battle. Also known as slimming patches and diet patches, they are made with natural ingredients that are absorbed directly through the skin into your blood stream, making them more effective as the nutrients reach your body cells faster. This also means there is no need to take large quantities compared to orally taken diet pills.
