Spring is upon us, and the time is ripe to begin anew. Our days are growing longer, and warmer, and offering a wonderful opportunity for us to get outside. Because in the past 10 years childhood obesity has doubled in the United States. So it really is no surprise, if kids are eating more calories than they need, and they don t exercise and play hard to burn those calories off, they gain weight.
Childhood obesity is a serious problem that increases a child s risk for adulthood diseases.
Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and skin disorders are but a few of the problems that can, and often do, result. Social and psychological implications experienced by obese children may last a lifetime. Other reasons included lack of school involvement or resources, limited availability of safe places to play in local areas, or lack of available transportation to safer areas. You as a parent can help address many of these issues by getting involved at the community level, even for a minimum amount of time. Investigate local schools and community facilities.