Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Kids Driven To World of Obesity...Daily Diet Zero on Fiber & High on Calories by Saurabh Verma

High-calorie, low-fiber diets can promote hormonal imbalances that lead children to overeat, a recent research warns about this aspect. Current food-manufacturing practices prevalent in present world are also responsible to create such a "toxic environment" that pushes children to being overweight, said Dr. Robert Lustig. He conducted a large-scale review of obesity research. His findings were published in the August issue of the journal Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism. Weight loss in kids under impact of such a over eating mode need extra precautions. Present world twenty first century food environment has become highly 'insulinogenic,' as demonstrated by its increased energy density, high fat content, high glycemic index, increased fructose composition, decreased fiber, and decreased dairy content as found by Lustig. He also point out the major reasons for such a condition include the below mentioned.
"In particular, fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin," Lustig said.
He also revealed the fact that obesity in present world is the most commonly-diagnosed childhood ailment in the United States and other western countries. Diseases previously only seen in adults, such as type 2 diabetes, are now becoming widespread in children.
Children who are obese are often ridiculed and socially isolated, which puts them at risk for depression and other mental health problems, Lustig said. To make it possible for children to have a childhood of fun and enjoyment it is necessary to introduce concept of weight loss and fitness in their daily schedule.
To make such a weight loss for better children future he urged societal action to correct the problem, noting that children can't be blamed for being overweight or expected to take personal responsibility for poor dietary habits when they're surrounded by unhealthy foods. It can be said that aim for healthy weight loss starts with control on eating habit.

About the Author
Saurabh Verma is working as Sr. Web Content Developer for leading pharmacy web-site a1dietpill.com.

Childhood Obesity: French Fries and Sitcoms by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one in four children in the United States is currently overweight. Research shows that this epidemic is linked to the rise in other health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, and stroke.Health experts and parents are scrambling to understand the cause of this rise in childhood obesity so as to develop better methods to stop it.

While genetics certainly play a role in a child's development, many people now suggest that child obesity may be the result of heavy marketing from the fast food industry. Read on to learn more about child obesity and what you can do to reduce your child's risk.
Fast FoodSome people question the link between childhood obesity and fast food, but researchers have shown that the rise in obesity in the United States has grown along the same lines as the rise in fast food consumption. And there's no question that almost all fast food is extremely high in fat. Here's a look at some of the most popular choices:
A Big Mac, Super Size fries and a large Coke at McDonalds now contains 1500 calories,about 40 percent of those from fat.

A typical Kentucky Fried Chicken Meal of chicken drumsticks, coleslaw, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a Pepsi contains 920 calories, 36 grams of fat, and 1590 milligrams of sodium.
A Taco Supreme with Pintos and Cheese from Taco Bell contains 400 calories with over 50 percent of those from saturated fat.

What makes these foods even worse is that they are heavily marketed to America's children. It may seem innocent at first, but giving a toy with a meal, and offering play areas makes children and families think positively about these fast food meals. In reality, a meal at a fast food restaurant that is extremely high in fat, sugar, and salt leads to a rise in child obesity.

How Does TV Lead To Obesity In Children?Watching television leads to obesity in children by replacing other, more active pursuits, such as walking, biking, or simply playing outdoors. All television shows, even educational non-commercial shows, replace physical activity. And watching TV is a sedentary activity that causes the metabolic rate to go even lower than when one is at rest. This means that you can burn more calories by just sitting quietly and doing nothing than you can when you sit and watch TV.

Plus roughly two-thirds of the 20,000 TV ads an average child sees each year are for food and most are for unhealthy foods. The majority of children who watch health related commercials believe what the ads say, even if the ads do not give accurate or balanced information.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Ross Anderson looked at the TV watching habits of over four thousand children between the ages of eight and sixteen. Anderson found that one-fourth of American children watched four or more hours of television a day. These children weighed more and had a higher percentage of body fat than those who watched fewer than two hours of TV a day.

Overcoming Child ObesityNow that you know how fast food and TV lead to obesity in children, help your kids by following these easy tips:
Set A Good Example: Children learn from watching what we do rather than listening to what we say. If you regularly hit up the drive-through, and spend a lot of time in front of the TV, it's likely your children will too.

Set Limits: It's OK to introduce restrictions on the amount of junk food they're allowed to eat, and the amount of time they spend in front of the tube.

Get Moving: Get your kids active by making exercise a family activity. Take a walk around the block, go for a hike, or get up and dance. Any kind of activity will benefit your child's health.
Give Them Support: If your child is suffering from serious weight issues, consider a getting them a personal fitness coach or nutritionist.
About the Author

Dr. Edward F. Group III is the founder of Global Healing Center, Inc. He continues to develop, sell and evaluate exclusively high-end natural and organic healthcare products to support a wide range of health conditions. For more information, please visit http://www.slimirex.com/and http://www.weightlossobesity.com/.

Obesity - Causes + Solutions by Chris Chenoweth

Due to the dramatic increase in obesity over the past 20 years, it has now reached epidemic proportions. Thirty percent of adults over the age of 20 are obese in the United States. That's almost 60 million people! This epidemic includes not only adults, but children as well. There are now 9 million children between the ages of 6 -19 who are considered overweight.

DANGERS OF OBESITY:
Obesity is defined simply as too much body fat. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including the following:

*Hypertension
*High total cholesterol
*Type 2-diabetes
*Coronary heart disease
*Stroke
*Gallbladder disease
*Osteo-arthritis
*Respiratory problems
*Certain types of cancers

CAUSES OF OBESITY:
The epidemic of obesity did not crop up overnight. Obesity is a chronic condition caused by an assortment of factors. Because there are so many factors involved (genetics, environment, metabolism, overeating, etc.), it is very difficult to treat the problem.
For instance, a person's genetics and environment can increase their risk of obesity, but their behavior also influences their risk. It is quite easy for someone to blame heredity for their obesity, but the choices a person makes can increase or decrease their risk for obesity significantly.

If a person chooses to be physically inactive and practice unhealthy eating habits, they are not only greatly increasing their risk of obesity, but for other diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. On the other hand, people who make healthy choices and avoid the behaviors that increase their risk can expect to live healthier and longer lives.

ADDING TO THE PROBLEM:
In the United States, our food options and eating habits have changed dramatically over the course of the past 20 years. We are faced with an astounding array of choices in the grocery store, choices that make it difficult to know what is healthy and what is not.
Shelves are packed with foods that are pre-packaged and high in fat, sugar and calories. Even foods that are marked as healthy or low-fat may contain more calories than the high-fat food they are supposed to replace. It is VERY important to always read food labels for nutritional information.

Fast food restaurants, while convenient, tend to be high in trans fats, carbohydrates and sugar. Portion size in restaurants has increased dramatically resulting in increased calorie consumption. If the body does not burn off the calories from eating the larger portions and drinking the sugar-laden soft drinks, weight gain can and will take place.
Technology has created many wonderful labor saving products. Unfortunately, many of them reduce the amount of energy we expend in our daily lives. Instead of walking or riding a bicycle for short distances, cars are used. Instead of children playing outside and getting exercise, they are sitting in the house watching television and playing video games.

SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM:
Proper diet and nutrition and physical activity are the cornerstones for a healthy body, a body that will not be at risk for obesity or any other health-related disease. In order to promote regular physical activity and a nutritious diet, you must create an environment that supports this way of life or the obesity epidemic will continue to grow.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Adding regular physical activity contributes to an amazing array of benefits for your body. It reduces your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, and cancer. It reduces weight, alleviates the pain of arthritis, relieves depression symptoms, and reduces the need for medications.

Whatever physical activity you participate in does not have to be exhausting to be valuable. Remember, any movement is better than none! Taking a brisk walk every day for 20-30 minutes will significantly benefit your body, physically and mentally.

HEALTHY DIET: Good nutrition, like physical activity, lowers the risk for obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. A diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat builds a healthy, strong body.

Although most Americans know that a healthy diet is necessary, they are slow in changing their poor eating habits. These poor eating habits usually begin during childhood and are difficult to change later in life, but these habits CAN be changed.

Many diet and exercise plans fail because people try to make too many changes in their routine too quickly and become discouraged. The key to being successful is to make small changes slowly over the course of many months. In this way, your body will learn to accept these changes and increase your chances of overcoming obesity.

One of the most effective and healthy weight loss systems available, the BURN THE FAT program, teaches you how to force your body to burn fat and lose weight.

About the Author
Chris Chenoweth writes articles pertaining to health and nutrition, budgeting, and online business.

Ever Pondered... How Destructive Obesity And Diabetes Can Be? by Ashish Jain

This world is full of injustice. I paid the full air fare for flying from New Delhi to New York. My weight is 70 kgs. The gentleman sitting next to me, almost bursting out of the seat belt, must be weighing about 200 kgs. He has also paid the same amount. Is this not injustice? Why obese people are given this preferential treatment?

All said in good humor! The obese people are to be pitied rather than condemned. They know not what they are doing- how much they are eating. To say it in clear cut terms obesity is extending a direct invitation to diabetes. Not very long ago, diabetes caught hold of the elderly and the aged. Now even the children suffer from diabetes, not the rarest of the rare cases, but quite a good percentage. It is increasing at a rapid pace.
The reason is not far off to seek. The modern mothers think that the easiest way to handle the children is to fulfill their all demands. The chocolates, the pizzas, the salty chips, cold drinks, the processed foods and what not!

The concept of right diet is not known to the children, but even the mothers wish to pretend ignorance, even if they know. Their placement of love for the children is wrong. Soon the children look like balloons and one fine day, when the doctor tells you that your kid has diabetes, you are shocked...How that can be...?
Various studies reveal that over 20 % of the world population is obese. You suffer, and you pass on this heritage to your children. You spend the whole day sitting at the office, with mental labor, without any physical labor and once you enter the house, tired and exhausted, you refuse to go out of the drawing room. Changing the channels, by push of the remote button is only your physical exercise.

Why blame anybody when you are declared to be a diabetic patient? Your diabetes is your own creation.

"Doing nothing is not an option" they say. "In 1989 a study found that five per cent of children were classified as obese. By 1998, the figure had almost doubled. The incidence of obesity is also increasing with age; according to an English survey in 1996, approximately 17 per cent of 15 year olds are obese," says Dr Penny Gibson, Consultant Paediatrician and Adviser on childhood obesity for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

There is conclusive proof that obesity is one of the strongest causes of diabetes. Unless something tangible steps are taken all over the World, by premium Organizations like World Health Organization, the day is not far off, when we shall have diabetic families, from the child to the grandfather!

About the Author
http://www.diabitieslife.com/diabetes/ & Diabities provides detailed information on diabities, diabities diet, diabities symptoms and more.

Solution to Obesity

Weight Loss Pills have made a sizeable entry in the household of modern society.

Uncontrolled lifestyle, taking excessive food - more than requirements- smoking, uncontrolled drinking of alcohol have taken their toll on the health of citizens of modern world.

Overweight and obesity are the direct impact of the above ill habits, which some times reach up to life threatening level and require immediate attention.

Weight loss pills are really miracle drugs which can reduce the body weight at least for short time. However, these drugs should be used judiciously only when the situation really warrants. If the situation is not much alarming, use of diet pills may not be effective , rather, it can harm the person.

One of the best oral medicines for weight loss is Didrex Diet Pills. This medicine is one of Benzphetamine group of medicines for treatment of overweight and obesity. For short term weight loss program this medicine may be a starter.

However, I am once regain emphasizing that use the medicine after consultation with your doctor and only when you require the medicine most when there is a life threatening situation arises due to overweight.

Didrex diet pills are appetite suppressant and reduces overall food intake of a person ultimately causing bodyweight reduction.

One you reduce for short time your body weight, I will recommend you to continue your weight loss program with Didrex, supplemented by balanced diet and regular exercise. Your weight loss will be sustained and ultimately lead into sound and disease free health.

Buy Didrex from a Prescription store against a doctors prescription who has thoroughly checked you to judge the suitability of the medicine on your body.

You will find innumerous advertisement of cheap didrex either through over the counter medicine shops or through Internet. These Internet shops will offer you didrex online with unbelievable price. Another advantage of didrex online is that you can get it even sitting at your home. However, I will suggest that you should be sure about the quality and effectiveness of the cheap didrex. Your pharmacist can guide you in this respect. Take help of him.

Now, I will highlight a few important information about didrex diet pills which should be remembered if you want to safely use it.

You should not use the drug if you have high or low blood pressure, heart disease or glaucoma.

In respect of weight reduction for women, the medicine should not be used by Pregnant or breast feeding women, as it may cause damage to the baby.

In respect of child obesity, which is rampant in the US, the drug is not suitable for children.

Persons suffering from thyroid disorder or epileptic problem, the drug may not be suitable. Consult a doctor for weight loss in such cases.

Among the many diet pills available in the market, Didrex diet pills yield most effective results for short term weight loss, if it is suitable for you as per your doctor's recommendation.


About the Author
Petr Thomas is a online editor to site http://www.slimtour.com . It commited to provide users with complete on health related topics like diet pills, weight loss, mens health and sexual health. Your feedback will be highly appreciated at petr.thomas@gmail.com

Monday, September 25, 2006

Is Your Kid's School Lunch A Nutritional Time Bomb? by Tracie Johanson

It's back to school time, and all across the country millions of kids are experiencing their first day of school after a long, lazy summer. Unfortunately for many of America's children, few school supply lists address what may be the most important school supply of all: a healthy lunch.
It's difficult, if not impossible, to turn on the television or radio without being bombarded with news about the American obesity epidemic. Close to two-thirds of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese, a startling reality made even more disheartening by the fact that child obesity rates are catching up fast. "Recent statistics indicate that 15.5 percent of 6 to 19 year olds and 10.4 percent of 2 to 5 year olds in the United States are overweight. The prevalence is even higher among non-Hispanic blacks (23.6 percent) and Mexican Americans (23.4 percent)" (source: Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter).
"In the last 10 years alone, the number of children and adolescents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has increased several-fold. A decade ago, we rarely diagnosed type 2 diabetes in children and teens. Now, we are seeing an epidemic increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in youth. The jump is phenomenal" (source: Benjamin Franklin Literary and Medical Society Nov/Dec 2004).

From the largest high schools to the tiniest elementary schools in the nation, overweight students can be found at public schools and private schools alike. So what's causing this dramatic rise in childhood obesity?

The answer is the same as it is for adults: kids are eating too much of the wrong foods and at the same time aren't getting enough exercise. "Lifestyles are clearly a contributing factor. The proportion of students attending physical education classes every day has declined from 41.6 percent in 1991 to 29.1 percent in 1999. And almost 80 percent of children aren't eating the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day" (source: Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter)

Aside from pulling your kids out of the school district altogether and starting up a home school program, there are some basic steps you can take to put children's health back on the report card.

First of all, encourage your child to be more active. Although many summer school programs involve sufficient exercise and physical education, the regular school year may not. If your kid isn't getting at least an hour of active playing each day, then it's a good idea to supplement their exercise program at home. This can be as simple as going for a family bicycle ride after dinner or playing tag in the backyard.

It's also a good idea to monitor what your child is eating at school. About the time your youngster reaches middle school age, they'll find vending machines at school stuffed with kid snacks of varying nutritional value. Even if you can't control what they buy once they're at school, you can certainly regulate how much money they take with them each day.
Finally, it's important to control what goes into your child's school lunchbox. Loaded down with sugar, fat and salt, many lunchboxes are sorely lacking in fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Here's how to pack a healthy school lunch that's sure to please:

1) Permit only milk or 100 percent juice for lunchbox drinks. Beware of 'juice' drinks that contain very little juice and heaps of sugar.
2) When choosing a school lunch main dish for kids, be it the ever-popular sandwich or something more creative, use low-fat cheeses and meats. The majority of the saturated fat in children's diets comes from milk and cheese, and lunchmeats are often another dangerous source. Most grocery stores offer low-fat and fat free cheeses and meats for sandwiches, which when combined with 1 percent or fat free milk will dramatically lower the amount of artery-clogging saturated fat your child is consuming.
3) Include fruits and vegetables every single time you pack the lunchbox. A steady diet of produce reduces the risks of heart disease, cancer, blindness, stroke and, or course, obesity.
4) Choose 100% whole-wheat bread instead of white bread. Higher in fiber, whole wheat bread will make help your child feel full longer, as well as make him or her healthier.
5) Keep kid desserts to a minimum. All too often, children wolf down their dessert first and are later too full for vegetables. Consider including dessert just three times per week, or just as a treat on Friday.

Finally, ask your child what they'd like in their lunchbox! The quickest way to get an angry kid is to pack their lunch with healthy foods that they hate. Instead, give them a list of healthy foods that you are willing to put in their lunch, and let them choose. You may even consider bringing them along to the store with you so they can be part of the process of making healthy food selections.

Making smart food choices can be fun and exciting for children, allowing them to try new foods and set healthy habits for life. With some planning and a little effort, your kid's school lunch doesn't have to be a nutritional time bomb this year - or ever again!


About the Author

Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Subscribe to our FREE weekly email newsletter, and receive a FREE weight loss e-book, just by going to http://www.letspickupthepace.com/ and clicking on the 'Newsletter' link.

Visit Your Local Outdoor Toy Store to Encourage Your Kids to Head Outside Again by Mayoor Patel

Children all over America are suffering from a new epidemic. Between the fatty foods that we are feeding them and their immense lack of any exercise, they are all quickly becoming overweight and obese right before our eyes. You can blame it on whatever you want from spending too much time in front of the television to eating far too many fatty foods, but the truth of the matter is that they are simply not getting enough outdoor exercise anymore. Whether it is from concerns about air contaminated by smog or simply because kids these days will use any excuse not to go outside whenever possible, the majority of children receive little to no exercise on a daily basis. Even though PE classes and walking around a schools campus all day long is a start to help kids get back into shape, they need to spend more time being physical while at home too if they ever hope to shed the pounds. One of the best ways to get kids to head back outside is to treat them to a variety of fun toys from an outdoor toy store toys which must be used outdoors or not at all.

The process of moving your kids from the living room out onto your grass is going to be a long and lengthy one. Many kids are firmly planted to the couch and cannot be budged unless you bribe them in some way, shape or form. Next time you and your family head out to your local shopping center, do some research and check out which stores have an outdoor toy store section that may sell some great outdoor toys and games. If you take your kid into the outdoor toy section, he or she may become amazed by some of the great things they offer. From gliders to playground sets to trampolines, there is practically nothing there that any average kid wouldnt go bananas for. Once you have your kid hooked on some of the cool outdoor toys, you can surprise him or her by simply bringing that toy home one day. Your kid will love it, love you for it and will likely begin to make great strides to break himself from the chains that bind him to the couch in front of the television. Unfortunately, as with all toys, the fun factor of whatever you purchase may wear out over time, but the seeds are planted, and after you are able to get your kid outside once you can easily do it again, possibly even without the need for toys from an outdoor toy store.

About the Author
For vital information on all things concerned with outdoor toys visit Outdoor Toys

Kids Health by Mark Mega Parents

Kid's health is one of the major problems faced by almost all parents around the world. In most part of the western countries, obesity and over weight problem is causing serious worries to the parents and as well as to the government. Both these problems needs to be controlled at early stages of life; so that future of your kids will be safe and secure from various diseases. Due to various types of junk foods, such as bakery products, fast food and oily stuffs, health of your child is affected. These unhealthy foodstuffs lead to lack of concentration in school and other learning aspects of social skills. So proper attention towards the health of your kid is needs to be provided by parents and healthy food with sufficient calories must be monitored along with regular exercises and daily workouts. Here are some of the guidelines that will help parents to look after their kids properly.Carry out regular check up of your kid from family doctor and provide healthy diet to the kid as prescribed by the doctor.Motivate kids for regular and simple exercises such as walking, daily warm up and if possible swimming.

Most of the parents do not get time to look after their kids and normally kids are on the mercy of the maidservants. This should not happen and regular attention must be provided to the kids so that they are well nourished.Due to various facilities of entertainments such as television, computers, movies and various cartoon channels, normally kids don't get sufficient time to carry out exercises. Thus, yoga is another alternative that can help in reducing extra weight along with improving strength and body coordination.Avoid providing junk foods, bakery products, chocolates, oily foodstuffs and unhealthy food to the kids.Balanced diet is must be provided to the kids to get rid of avoidable diseases such as obesity and overweight disorders.Healthy eating habits help kids in physical and mental development. So fix proper timing of meals and restrict untimely snacks and various foodstuffs that are of low calorie.At least once in a day, have meals with kids and tell them the benefits of balanced healthy diet and advice them to stay away from junk food.In most of the cases, it is found that kids follow the habits of parents so it is better that parents should first change their unhealthy eating habits and carry out regular exercises along with kids. This will help kids as well as parents to look after their own health and in turn eliminate chances of obesity and overweight.


By Mark MegaParents, writer for http://www.MegaParents.com, a blog packed with information about Parenting and Family Life! Don't for get to visit!You may distribute this article freely but please leave the credits as mentioned above. Thank you.

About the Author
The MegaParents.com team provides information on parenting and family health!

Weight Loss Programs For Children

It is well known that obesity or being overweight is a growing epidemic among children, leading to increases in diabetes and other serious health effects. Following a weight loss programs for children will help the kids in problems with the obesity.
It is also well known what you have to do to lose weight, by eating less and exercising more. The problem is that it is hard to stay motivated to do these things.

How do you help your children lose weight?

It can help to stick to the basics. Don't worry about counting calories and carbohydrates and fat grams. Instead, provide healthy meals and snacks and encourage regular physical activity.
If your child is already overweight, you will likely have to make some changes to his diet. But this isn't as hard as you think. It doesn't have to involve counting every calorie that he eats and drinks, which can be especially hard when your kids are eating at school.
Instead, keep in mind that a pound is equal to about 3500 calories. So if your child is gaining an extra pound a week, he needs to cut his diet back by 3500 calories a week or 500 calories a day so that he doesn't gain any more weight.

An important first goal for most overweight kids is to simply stop gaining weight.
Again, not gaining any more extra weight is an important first goal, but many overweight kids also need to lose some weight. You can use the same calculations to figure out how much more to cut your child's daily calories by to lose weight. So, once your child is at a stable weight and not gaining, if you want to help your child lose 5 pounds a year, cut his diet back by 50 calories a day. To lose 10 pounds, eliminate 100 calories a day, and so on.
If your child is still gaining weight, then you will have to cut more calories out of his diet. For example, if he has been gaining an extra 5 pounds a year and he needs to lose 10 pounds, then that is a total of 15 pounds that you need to compensate for. So he will need to cut back his diet by 150 calories a day.

More exercise and being more active is another good way to stop gaining and losing weight. Instead of thinking about how to diet to decrease the number of calories your child is taking in, you could also think about how much exercise he needs to do to burn those calories.
So just like we said that you had to cut back your diet by 50 calories a day to lose 5 pounds a year, you could also exercise to burn an extra 50 calories a day and lose weight.
Or even better, do a combination of both.

How can children burn 50 calories a day exercising? Your children should be able to burn 50-100 calories a day in 30-60 minutes of regular activities that children enjoy, such as walking, roller blading, bicyling, or playing baseball, basketball or soccer. Following a weight loss programs for children will help the kids in problems with the obesity.

About the Author

I am a nutritionist woman who used to be fat. After testing tens of so-called "wonder diets" I've decided to create a Weight Loss Programs Review Website, containing a top of the 3 best programs with a brief description about their features and benefits.Visit the website! It will help you make a wise decision! http://www.LoseWeightFast.999answers.com