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Unhealthy weight
among American youth is an epidemic. Alarmingly our community
average for overweight and obese children is far above the national
average. Nationwide, only 22% of all youth eat the recommended five
or more daily servings of fruit and vegetables. A sedentary
lifestyle, combined with poor nutrition, result in a direct link to
adolescent overweight (obesity). By adolescence, the likelihood of
an overweight child carrying that condition into adulthood is up to
80%. Overweight youth are at greater risk for developing such
serious chronic conditions as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, hypertension and emotional and social problems.
Advocates
for Healthy Youth (AFHY) is a community
coalition of concerned health, fitness and education professionals
who seek to create family, school and community environments where
children make healthy food and activity choices. Cheshire Medical
Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene convened the group in response to
physicians’ concern about the number of overweight children and
adolescents they see in their practices.
AFHY recognizes that bigger
appetites, busy lifestyles, mood swings, struggles for independence,
peer pressure all challenge how and what your teenager eats. As a
parent, there are ways you can positively influence the eating
habits of your teen.
- Stock
your kitchen with easy-to-grab
nutritious snacks, such as whole fruit, yogurt, hummus, cut
vegetables and string cheese.
- Make time for
family meals. Even if you have to schedule around
after-school activities and jobs, put family meals on the
calendar days in advance.
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Discuss the options at fast-food
restaurants with your teen.
- Help kids
learn about healthy portion sizes by buying small bags of
snacks.
- Set a good
example by leading a healthy lifestyle yourself, complete
with regular physical activity and healthful eating.
- Encourage self
esteem by focusing on physical health, not weight. Young
adults who feel good about themselves are more apt to take care
of themselves.
- Restrict
sugary and soft drinks (A recent study shows that 12-13% of
caloric intake in 14-17 year olds was from regular and low
calorie soft drinks!)
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Adopt the 5-2-1-0 Plan!
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