| The percentage of obese or overweight children | | | | Any outdoor activity that is fun will teach a young |
| in America has roughly doubled between 1971 and | | | | child to love and appreciate what lies outside the |
| 2000. The prevalence of overweight and obese | | | | 40" Sony television set. It has also been found |
| children has increased from 15% in 1971 to more | | | | that children who watch more than five hours of |
| than 30% in 2000. | | | | television a day are almost five times more likely |
| Health problems increase with obesity on a rise. | | | | to be overweight than children who watch two |
| Obesity among children is a health crisis in the | | | | hours or less - with excessive TV viewing |
| United States and a terrifying reality. Some | | | | considered to contribute to 60 percent of the risk |
| experts claim that if something is not done to | | | | of obesity in children. |
| stop childhood obesity immediately we will witness | | | | Parents can set a good example by providing |
| a whole generation becoming twice as heavy as | | | | healthy meals and not eating junk food |
| its parents and grandparents were, with this gain | | | | themselves, but it's important to allow some |
| of weight other health risks are becoming more | | | | treats, as being over strict is likely to cause |
| and more evident and have a huge effect on | | | | friction and could be counterproductive. |
| larger groups. | | | | It is clear that any long-term solution for obese or |
| So what should we as parents do? | | | | overweight children in America must be fought on |
| It would be unrealistic to think of eliminating | | | | four major fronts: physical activity, sedentary |
| television from your child's life, though this is a | | | | behavior, socioeconomic status, and eating habits. |
| popular concept. There are many programs on | | | | This is easier said than done; especially when |
| television these days that are beneficial to your | | | | emotional eating or an unobserved food addiction |
| child's development. According to many reports | | | | may fuel adverse eating habits. |
| watching television is the most engaging activity, | | | | Children's lifestyles are generally a reflection of |
| except sleeping, for many kids. Although, as a | | | | those who raise them so parents need to figure |
| result, kids who spend more time watching | | | | heavily in any strategies put forward to improve |
| television also eat more of the low-nutrient and | | | | the health and well being of the next generation. |
| calorie-dense foods. | | | | |