Minggu, 01 Maret 2009

Kids With Clogged Arteries

By Jeff A Wise

Kids don't usually have a lot in common with middle-aged adults. Sadly, what they are now starting to share are thick and stiff arteries.

In a recent study, researchers discovered that the arteries of many obese children and teenagers are comparable to those of a typical 45-year-old . With the saying "you're as old as your arteries," these children may see major health problems at an early age.

According to study leader Dr. Geetha Raghuveer of the University of Missouri at Kansas City, " It's possible that they will have heart disease in their 20s and 30s ." This is tragic news for our young generation.

There's no denying the childhood obesity epidemic in America. Experts weren't surprised to find such results during their study. But results like these should wake up our country and our children's parents . It's time to take control of our kids' health and make some changes.

If you have an obese or overweight child, please understand the severity of this situation. It is not your child's fault for their weight problem. You are the one in control . While you would never want to intentionally hurt your child, allowing them to live such unhealthy lifestyles will likely shorten their lifespan.

No parent wants to be the cause of their child's death, but that is exactly what you're doing when you allow them to eat whatever they want whenever they want, without restrictions or exercise .

Even if your child appears to be healthy, examine their diet and activity levels . A child may have a high metabolism, thus not gaining excessive weight, but may be equally unhealthy. What type of foods are they eating daily? Are they getting the proper amount of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, etc.? Are they involved in any kids exercise ?

Perhaps what needs to change first is your own diet and exercise. It's much harder to have healthy children if you yourself aren't healthy. If this describes you, make a resolution to improve the health of your family , beginning with yourself. But don't feel you have to do it all at once. Make gradual changes. Here are a few steps to improving your family's health and future.

• Exercise with your children 30 minutes to 1 hour at least 3-5 days a week.

• Choose healthier food selections. A good rule is to stay away from food items that have a lot of ingredients.

• Make sure you and your kids sleep 8-9 hours per night.

• Remove any unnecessary stress from your life and your kids' lives.

Parents want their children to have long, healthy lives. The best way to ensure that is to teach them healthy habits when they're young. For great suggestions, articles and kids exercises, click here.


Tidak ada komentar: