Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

Though the United States and many other nations continue to experience an epidemic of childhood obesity, some parents fail to grasp the significance of the problem. A report released by the Ontario Medical Association found that although 25 percent of Canadian young people are overweight or obese, just 14 percent of their parents reported their child was "somewhat overweight."

Amidst all the expert advice out there, one simple lifestyle change may help: let your kids walk to school.

"Most kids are being driven to school simply because their parents think its safer. Its the same fear that allows many parents to turn a blind eye to their kids screen time. Few will admit it, but Im convinced many parents are secretly thrilled their child is spending hours staring at a screen in the family room or basement, rather than running or cycling around outdoors." (Source: The London Free Press)

An increasing number of kids are falling prey to heart attacks, strokes and other life-threatening illnesses. Parents are right to be concerned about their children's safety, but overreacting to safety concerns may be result in today's children being the first generation who are so unhealthy that they wont outlive their parents.

Labels: parenting, safety, walking, healthy_living

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In September and October, more than 70 U.S. cities will host a "Walk from Obesity" event to raise both awareness and money for the fight against obesity.

"In 2007, the Walk raised more than $750,000 to support the ASMBS Foundation and its research and professional education initiatives, and the patient and general public educational and advocacy programs the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). To date, the Walk has provided nearly 2.3 million dollars in overall support."

Walks are happening in cities throughout the nation. Individuals who are interested in participating or supporting walkers can find more information at www.walkfromobesity.com. Source: PR Newswire

Labels: walking, community, advocacy

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People who carry pedometers or set walking goals for themselves end up walking as much as an extra mile every day, according to a study in the November 21, 2007, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Pedometers are small devices that count steps when you walk.

Researchers at Stanford Medical School examined the records of 2,767 people and found that pedometers and walking goals helped them get more exercise, lose weight, and slightly improve their blood pressure.

"The bottom line is that everything works for a month," said Dr. Robert Lustig, lead author. "Everything novel works. If you have the motivation, a pedometer helps. If you don't, it's useless."

Labels: exercise, walking

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Gilbert, Arizona has received a $39,000 grant from the Safe Routes to School Program. The program is designed to decrease traffic and increase the use of walk and bike paths to and from schools.

"Plans for the program call for printing maps of walking and biking routes and working with neighborhoods to encourage more students to walk or bike to school."

Some, however, worry about safety, and some elementary schools won't let their youngest students bike or walk to school. In all, a dozen Arizona cities and governments received grant funding for similar projects, aimed at reducing childhood obesity by encouraging children to walk to school.

Read more at AZCentral.com.

Labels: safety, exercise, walking

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In an effort to combat childhood obesity by encouraging young people to partake in regular physical activity, British leaders are implementing a plan to provide rewards to children who walk to school:

Under the scheme, pupils will be issued with electronic swipe cards that they use to touch receivers on lampposts between their home and school, in much the same way that Oystercards work on the capital's transport network.

In a pilot scheme in Wimbledon, south west London, teenage girls received a £5 Topshop voucher if they walked to school eight times within a certain period, and an Odeon cinema ticket for five days of walking.

As a result there was an 18 per cent increase in walking to school. ...

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, gave the idea a "cautious welcome".

"In principle it's a good idea, but it needs to be closely monitored," he said, advising that chools should set their pupils a "time limit" depending on distance.

"It needs to be a brisk walk - they've got to huff and puff," he said. "If they amble to school and stop at the corner shop to buy fizzy drinks, it's a waste of time, because then they would probably take in more calories than they would expend." [Source: Daily Telegraph]

 

Labels: walking

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