SEPTEMBER IS CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH
Each month of the year the Health Council tries to bring to light the wellness issues that impact our society. With children going back to school, this September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Growing obesity rates affect not only adults, but children and adolescents, too. Currently one out every five children in the United States is obese, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately with increasing obesity rates we also see an increase in related health conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and asthma among children. Not only are obese children at a higher risk to become obese adults; but the risk factors associated with weight are more likely to be severe. These children also have a higher risk of being the target of having lower self-esteem, bullying, and potential behavioral issues and depression.
Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, and are not as mentally prepared to handle these problems. Needless to say, there are many benefits to be had from making changes to curb childhood obesity and these changes start in the home. Here are some simple steps you can take at home to help bring about these changes: have your children help plan and cook the meals, limit their screen time, make sure they get 60 minutes minimum of activity every day, limit sugar intake found in cereal, soft drinks, and snacks. Serve appropriate portions, with main courses and desserts. Be active in their consumption of food by reading labels and avoiding sugars and high fructose corn syrup. If at all possible avoid eating fast foods, especially with soft drinks. Make fresh fruits and vegetables readily available to the children during meals and snacks.
As parents the best way for us to impact our children’s lives is by setting the example. The example must be set not only our eating habits, but in with our habits of physical activity also. You can hardly expect your children to go out and play when you are being a couch potato. Why not go outside and enjoy the time you have together by shooting some hoops, or going for a bike ride, it will do you both a lot of good. Remember the Bible tells us that our body is the Holy Temple and we are supposed to take care of it.
We as authors, always seem to include a sinful indulgence in the life of our heroes or heroines in the way of foods. We often use these indulgences as a reward system, or some type of goal. Maybe we need to change our way of thinking, if we want other people to think along healthy lines. Besides, we can always use dictation to write, while we ride a bike or do other physical activities like taking a walk, and the change of scenery can often remove writers block. Someone wrote once; “you are what you eat”, now that is a frightening thought.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
I Corinthians 6:19
And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Proverbs 23:2 & 20
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luke 21:34
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
III John 1:2
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:31
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1