The struggle to develop good eating habits among toddlers, preschoolers and older children seems never-ending, but encouraging children to eat appropriately does not require confrontations and battles. What may be needed instead may just require some discipline and patience.
Do you know how much exertion your adolescents get? If you take their word for it, you may not have the whole story. Children overestimate their activity levels, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. In one study, 45 kids ages 11 to 13 wore monitors for 8-day trials. Then researchers checked that data against the youngsters' self-reported verbal reports. The result? Students reported they did more moderate and vigorous activity than they really did.
"Many parents overestimate the amount of exercise their kids are getting," says Janet Silverstein, M.D., a child specialist who focuses on endocrinology (which includes the study of growth and metabolism). "It is important for parents to be aware of how much physical exertion their youngsters are getting so they can make adaptations in their childrens' lifestyle."
There's an inverse link between the amount of time young people spend watching TV and the amount of time they use for exercise," says William H. Dietz, M.D., Ph.D., director of the division of nutrition and physical activity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lack of exercise and poor diet can lead to diabetes and other chronic ailments."Kids need aerobic physical exercise that involves steady movement", says Howard Taras, M.D., professor of school health and community pediatrics at the University of California in San Diego. "Just because a child is busy does not mean he or she is getting enough aerobic exercise," says Dr. Taras. He suggests that you:
1. Keep youngsters away from television or computer games until they have exercised.
2. Set times for homework and reading, hanging out and physical activity.
3. Find well-run community fitness programs for your children.
Now retired, Internetpotent Doc (Ralph D Harris MD, MBA) has been a pediatric physician, hospital administrator, medical director in a H.M.O and Physician-hospital organization, university professor, realtor, businessman and investor. 30 years of experience with computers & e-commerce and websites. For more information on modification of healthy lifestyles for families, see discussions on his blog site at http://vibranthealthtoday.info
