Overweight Kids: Who's at Fault? :

It’s a downward spiral. Childhood obesity is fast becoming a nationwide epidemic, and the physical and psychological effects of being overweight can last a lifetime. While the issue of weight problems in children has become a “hot-button” topic throughout the news media, far too many families don’t have adequate information or resources when it comes to teaching their kids about healthy eating and fitness .

It’s certainly not easy being a kid in today’s complex culture, where children have a harder time making healthy decisions than their parents did. Not only do they have to negotiate any number of social landmines at school, but overweight and obese children also face many other challenges. Today’s overweight kids, of which there are many, more frequently have to deal with the discrimination of their peers and scrutiny from adults. We all must understand that placing blame doesn’t lessen a child’s suffering, nor does it make them any healthier. However, that doesn’t mean we should simply resign ourselves to believing that genetics are accountable for the child’s weight problem and, therefore, do nothing about it. It is important to help America’s kids navigate through society’s overabundance of junk foods and fast foods, and teach them to make sound choices regarding nutrition and fitness. Lobbying for more physical education courses at school is a good start, but it is simply not enough.

As with adults, there is no quick, easy weight-loss fix for children. To solve a child’s weight problem, parents need to help them modify dietary intake and manage physical activity and lifestyle behaviors. They must also seek out resources that can help the child start making small lifestyle changes RIGHT NOW. These solutions do not need to be the result of clinical trials or doctorate level dissertations. There are many new products in the marketplace today that have been introduced at the grassroots level by Americans, who have decided to take action: