Causes of Childhood Obesity

However, the amount of saturated fats in the child's diet are really minimal in comparison to the sugar they are consuming. As a society, we are now consuming in upwards of 150lbs. of sugar per person per year.

As stated here, saturated fats are healthy for the human frame and necessary for health and longevity, most particularly children.

By reducing saturated fat in the child's diet, you are essentially taking away the foremost food necessary for the development of the human brain.
The causes of childhood obesity include:

• Soy Based Formulas
• Early infant introduction of Grains and Cereals
• Fruit Juices-Juice Boxes-Soft Drinks
• Flour and Sugar Based Snacks and Cookies
• Chips
• Breakfast Cereals
• Processed Freezer Foods
• Fast Food Meals
• Soy Based School Lunches
• Reduced Activity

In fact, new research funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds that children who eat school lunches that are part of the federal government's National School Lunch Program are more likely to become overweight. This is why packing a child's lunch is so important.

Bad Food, Bad Science

As mentioned here, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils are some of the most dangerous additives in our food supply today. These are some causes of childhood obesity as they interrupt metabolic pathways.

We have been duped into thinking that low fat snacks are great choices for children and they simply are not.

A low fat snack just leaves a child hungry, craving and consequently, lacking cognitive function. Read my story, I know the feeling first hand. Had there been the official diagnosis of ADHD and subsequent medication in the 1970's, I would have been on it. Yes, I would have been under fed, over medicated and potentially morbidly obese today had I not found the answers in that of the benefit of a reduced carbohydrate increased traditional fat lifestyle.

I encourage you to evaluate your pantry and your child's food choices. It could mean the difference between a happy playful life and a dismal obese one.

Your child could be silently suffering.


Some Suggestions Include:

• Offer fresh foods for snacking
• Celery with peanut butter
• Fresh fruit smoothies
• Mini lunch meat roll ups with cheese, cream cheese
• Homemade trail mix of raw nuts and dry goji or cranberry
• Slices of Apple dipped in almond butter
• Fruit Kabob, melon, strawberry, pineapple
• Vegetables like carrots, jicama and celery dipped in real ranch dressing

It's important to offer a fat with fruit and vegetable choices as fat is not only an appetite suppressant, but it is a necessary nutrient for assimilating the vitamins and minerals of fruit and vegetables in the body. Last, fat maintains normal blood sugar levels to avoid those spikes one might get from consuming fruit alone.

Too many years of bad advice to eat your fruit and veggies plain, only making us hungrier and even more imbalanced causing sleepiness, grouchiness, lack of coordination and cognitive function and a general feeling of malaise. This, one of our main causes of childhood obesity.

There is a disconnect between child bearing and nutrition education. The education your child is receiving outside the home is propaganda that is bought and paid for by large processed food corporations with the pharmaceutical companies hanging on the tail wings ready to recommend medication to your child.

Cholesterol lowering medications are the buzz in today's news and this is horrifying.

Start early and you will instill good habits for life. Involve your children in the planning and preparing of meals, all meals including lunches for school. Do not reward children with food. This habit sets the child up for future potential eating disordered behavior.

While it might get a bit frustrating and take some time, it is their life. What takes a bit more time now saves their bodies from disease later.

Studies show that if a child is involved in the preparation of the food, he/she will be more apt to consume the foods. There is great pride and after all, who doesn't love finger foods and this is the easiest way to get good nutrition into your child.

If your childs health and safety were in danger, you would take every step to protect them right? This is just as important.

In good health

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Childhood Obesity Facts



This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

As with any diet program, check with your medical care provider before you begin.

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