Childhood Obesity Prevention

In the US, the government’s Preventative Services Task Force says that school-aged children need to be screened for obesity and then sent to intensive treatment programs to lose weight.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! How loudly can I shout at all governments and yet they still won’t listen!

This is not a child-centred problem! This is a family-centred problem!

No matter how much education a child has, the problem begins and ends with the parents!

Children are not in control of buying the food! Parents need to be role models and not be by-standers telling their children to be active or eat healthy – they need to lead by example! Mum and Dad and any extended family needs to follow the same guidelines as they expect the child to.

Stop targeting the children and start targeting the parents and caregivers! Education, support and practical skills and knowledge. The reason kids are overweight or obese is the same reason for parents:

• Don’t know how to cook wholesome and nutritious food from scratch – THE LOST ART OF COOKING
• Time poor
• No support
• Fatigue, lack of motivation, laziness – DUE TO CLOGGING THE BODY & BRAIN WITH BAD FOODS AS IT CANNOT FUNCTION PROPERLY
• Fatigue, lack of motivation – DUE TO LITTLE OR NO ACTIVITY AS THIS REDUCES ENERGY
• Imbalance in body chemicals and hormones – stress, body fat, lack of sleep, poor sleep, too much processed foods
• Diets that don’t work, restriction, deprivation, starvation!
• Depression and anxiety
  
• Poor self-image, esteem and confidence
  
• CAUGHT IN THE VICIOUS CYCLE AND DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET OUT!

Practical, back to basics understanding, knowledge and skills need to be the key to a successful family-centred obesity prevention program.

I am on my soap-box about this topic so I might stay on this topic for another few blogs. Watch out for a continuation in the series on family-centred obesity prevention programs. The Mind and Body Power program is based on this exact same issue but I think I need to spread some of the advice that we give out in the program to a wider audience.

About

The Mind & Body Program is the brainchild of psychologist and fitness coach Kellee Waters. It is a free resource offered to Australian familes to help combat the growing trend of obesity within the community.

Our sixteen week program targets obesity from a psychological foundation, with an individual and family perspective combining nutrition, activity and skill based education. Our holistic approach not only addresses the problems associated with weight gain and bad eating habits but also aspects such as a lack of motivation and activity, family stresses and a large array of additional problems with obesity for both adults and children.