Many parents point at school lunch and snack programs as primary culprits in rising rates of childhood obesity. But new research has found that those people may be pointing in the wrong direction.

"Data from kindergarteners and first graders found that body mass index increased two to three times as fast in summer as during the regular school year. Minority children were especially vulnerable, as were children already overweight."

Though this data doesn't absolve schools of all responsibility, it does indicate that nutritional standards often take a summer break. The research also emphasizes that healthy eating is important all year long. Source: The Providence Journal

Labels: healthy_eating, summers, vacations

With the onset of warmer weather and time off from school, now is the perfect time for parents to help their kids make some healthy lifestyle changes. The changes they make now can go a long way towards combating childhood obesity which can lead to significant health problems later in life.

"Make activities fun. Exercise shouldn't be a chore, especially for children. With warm weather outside, kids can do a variety of activities that involve both fun and fitness. [Dr. Amy Bohn] recommends jumping rope, swimming, skateboarding, and bike riding as alternatives to inside play."

Dr. Bohn also recommends keeping healthy snacks in the house, and having the whole family take walks or bike rides together. Read more at NewsWise.com.

Labels: exercise, lifestyle, summers

Most people assume that kids spent more time outdoors being active during the summer months than they do during the school year. But a recent study found that kids actually gain weight over the summer. Excessive use of and exposure to media (video games, iPods, TiVo, etc) is considered one of the most likely causes.

"Considering that the average American child will see more than 40,000 ads on broadcast television alone in one year, and that 83 percent of the food ads in kids' sows are for fast food and sweets, it’s no wonder that the amount of time kids spend in front of a screen is directly linked to their risk of being obese."

Though it's not likely that parents can get kids to avoid TV and other media altogether, now is a good time for them to set some ground rules for the summer. Read more at HuffingtonPost.com.

Labels: summers, TV, video_games

A recently published studies kids actually gain weight during the summer.

"One researcher said, 'Clearly the sources of children's obesity problems lie outside of the school." Researchers suggested lengthening the school year or providing structured programs to maintain control of kids' eating and activity levels. Because many children are poorly supervised in the summertime, parents might be depending on junk-food and video-games to keep kids safely occupied."

Parents must begin to refrain from letting their children sit inside all day and letting them constantly eat whatever they want. It may be more difficult to do, but whoever said parenting was easy? Read more online.

Labels: parenting, summers