We have the highest teenage and childhood obesity rates today than at any other point in the world’s long history. Much of the blame for this is on the fast food or restaurant low energy society that we have become. Far too often we feel that it is safer and feel protected to keep our children inside our rooms in homes rather than out and about in the great outdoors. The things we are doing for the safe of our children are really detrimental to the health of our children.
There are main things, however, that are being done to face and address the problem and get our children more involved, more active, and better educated about making the proper choices about diet, nutrition, fitness, and overall health of the child. The problem for most teens is getting them off the computer, phone, or away from the television long enough to get active, and most important are games.
Even video games are getting in on the act of getting children up and active by creating games such as PlayStation 2’s Dance Party Revolution and the new Nintendo Wii gaming system that seem to be taking the market by storm. These systems allow consumers, to energetically participate in the game play adventure, rather than sitting back and playing the game in a static and sitting environment. Static game's is most danger for teens. It is a great way to achieve teens off their seats, active and energetic. These games are also fun and enjoyable for adults and will have the same effects when it comes to activity. Whoever thought we’d be actually encouraging game play for exercise?
Get Outside and Get Active Teens learn by example, specially from family and environment which provide to them and whether they care to admit it or not, they typically enjoy doing things as part of the family. Go rock wall climbing or mountain climbing at least a month. Go bike riding as a whole family. Camp in the great places and go hiking, boating. Learn a new sport with family. It’s amazing how much fun and enjoyable you can have learning how to scuba dive and while you are at it, neither of you will be consuming empty calories. Even if the sport you take up together doesn’t involve a lot of physical activity, it is quite likely more active than sitting in front of the television.
We have all kinds of sports teams available in our community in which our teens can join and enjoy a lot. Even those with no skills at all can join and play in some leagues while other leagues, are competitive and interesting. Getting out and about for a softball game, and even volleyball can be a great way for the family to do something together and the games and practices are opportunities for your teen to be active. Lawn work is another way to get out and get active with your teen. The key, as always, is in your teen burning more calories than he or she takes from food which they eat. It is often easier said than done, but it is quite possible if you work to get them out and about and practice them on a daily basis. Find things that will be interesting to your teen and focus on those rather than torturing them with activities that hold no interest at all (well maybe not the yard work). At any rate, filling their time with activities is also allowing time that they aren’t consuming calories as well, and that is something worth considering.
Encourage your teen to eat healthier and clean foods. Eliminate calorie-loaded sods, fruit juices, and energy drinks from your pantry shelves, and encourage your teens to drink plenty of water each day, at least 8 to 10 glass. Introduce as many vegetables to the diet of your teens, and get rid of the prepackaged convenience goodies that teens are notorious for depleting in one sitting. Also, having your teens actively and happily participate in the preparation and clean up for meals will help them pay more attention to the things(food etc.) they put into their mouths as well as the messes they make in the process as a whole.
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