Times are different for kids than they were a few generations ago. While childhood obesity, depression, ADHD, and Type 2 Diabetes was practically unheard of just 30 years ago, cases of these conditions are on the rise. Experts disagree about the exact cause, but there’s a common understanding that lifestyle: eating habits as well as activity rate play a large factor.
Data from 2015-2016 show that nearly 1 in 5 school age children (6 to 19 years) in the United States is obese. consumerhealthday.com says that the number of children and adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes (most diagnosed in their early teens) has skyrocketed over the last 20 years and is still climbing, prompting experts to call it an epidemic.
What can we do to ensure that our children don’t fall victim to grave health conditions? The answers are simple, but not easy:
1. We can be more mindful of our children’s diets.
Pay close attention to calorie intake and begin teaching them to avoid the intake of sweets and fast food.
2. We can encourage our kids to become more active and less sedentary.
We need to get our kids active! Anyone watching kids on a playground can see that it brings them joy when they play. We should be encouraging active play in our kids!
3. We can be a role model!
Lead a healthy, active lifestyle. Doing so will teach this next generation how to stay active and healthy. If you’re reading this blog, then you’re on the way to being a positive role model for your kids.
We love our OCSC kids! Our youth programming is here to help get them moving, keep them fit, and make them happy! Open Enrollment for Youth Programming starts January 14 for the 2019 Winter 2 Session. The Winter 2 session runs from February 4th to April 15th. Offerings include: Gymnastics, Trampoline, Warrior Zone, Dance, Fencing, Cheer, and Tae Kwon Do.
Give us a call or stop by the front desk to start making positive changes in your kids’ health and happiness!
