NEWS=CHILDHOOD OBESITY

[Guest guest]

Two Extremes Plague Our Kids...

by Felicia (Fee) Benamon

Dec 30, 2005

As a young kid, I enjoyed recess, Phys. Ed. classes, (as a matter of

fact, it was my favorite class) and the joys of playing sports.

Today, many schools are doing away with those vital programs and our

society is suffering for it. Our children are overweight and are

not getting enough benefits from exercise. It is baffling to me as

to why we would want to eliminate such important programs, but such

is the case in schools across the country.

A recent study indicates just how many of our kids suffer from poor

physical health in America:

Updated: 4:09 p.m. ET Dec. 20, 2005

CHICAGO - More than one in three American adolescents are physically

unfit and have many of the risk factors for heart disease,

researchers said on Tuesday.

Treadmill tests performed on 3,100 adolescents revealed 34 percent

were in bad physical shape — and the figure was conservative because

some couldn't participate due to the risk they might suffer a heart

attack during the exam.

***

This is disturbing, and they are taking cues from adults in America,

who are increasingly overweight:

'Overweight threat' for most of US

From correspondents in Washington

THE US obesity problem might be more serious than previously

believed and most adults in the United States were at risk of

becoming overweight or obese, US researchers said today.

In a government study that followed 4000 participants over 30 years,

researchers found that 90 per cent of men and 70 per cent of women

were overweight or later became overweight.

" National surveys and other studies have told us that the United

States has a major weight problem, but this study suggests that we

could have an even more serious degree of overweight and obesity

(cases) over the next few decades, " Nabel, director of the

US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, said.

Excess weight and obesity increase the risk of poor health and can

lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke,

breathing problems and some cancers, Ms Nabel said.

" We hope these results will serve as a wake-up call to Americans of

all ages. "

***

Of course, it better be a wake-up call! It sure is something we

can't ignore. If a child is overweight, chances are their parents

are as well. Not only should we be focused on providing activities

and programs and chances for kids to romp and play, we as parents

should be concerned about food intake. There has to be a

balance...children getting the equal amount of nutrition from

different food sources. Kids should not be put on diets as they

would lose out on key essential nutrients for their growing bodies.

When we tackle the issue of poor nutrition and lack of exercise, we

will see a change for the better. I hear of so many people, kids and

adults who are in danger of developing diabetes due to inactivity

and poor food choices. And to me, there should be no excuse. Eat

healthy, for you and your child. And remember, life is to be

enjoyed through activity; trying new things, being creative, and

adventurous. And that requires you to be on the move.

My suggestion? Why not make exercise a family affair? Find a

physical activity the whole family will love. Get out and get some

sun! Life is too short to be sluggish...sitting on the couch and

wasting the day away. A rousing family activity which members

participate in on a regular basis will help set the wheels in motion

to a stronger household, no doubt.

Continue reading this article below

Make cooking a family affair as well. Learning hands-on is always a

good learning tool for kids.

Steroid abuse

Extreme physical fitness problems/overweight issues is one extreme

affecting our young people. The other is the blatant use of

steroids. These days, it's all about winning...not about the

enjoyment of the sport. Sportsmanship has taken a backseat. It

would be great if one wins, but it won't happen all the time.

Competition is taken to insane levels these days. Enter the abuse of

steroids. High School age kids have experimented with steroids to

better perform in their chosen sport:

NJ to Begin Random Steroid Testing for HS Athletes

By Jeff McKay

CNSNews.com Correspondent

December 22, 2005

(CNSNews.com) - On the verge of leaving office, New Jersey Acting

Gov. Codey has ordered that high school athletes in the

state will have to undergo random drug testing for steroids in the

2006 school year.

" We've all seen the statistics and read the articles about the

impact that steroids are having on kids. This is a growing public

health threat, one we can't leave up to individual parents, coaches

or schools, " said Codey while announcing the first-of-its-kind

measure in the nation. " Kids don't think 10 years down the road,

when that steroid use can lead to a heart attack, liver cancer,

diabetes, " he added.

The majority of high school coaches in the state approve of Codey's

plan, according to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic

Association. Steroid and performance-enhancing drug use has been on

the rise by young athletes attempting to improve their level of

play. Where these types of drugs were once used by professional

athletes, in recent years, they have filtered down to collegiate and

high school levels.

According to statistics from the National Institute of Drug Abuse,

3.4 percent of high school seniors nationwide, 2.4 percent of 10th

graders and 1.9 percent of eight graders said they have tried

anabolic steroids at least once.

***

Kids see professional athletes taking steroids and think it's cool

and it will help their game. They get the message that it's ok to

take banned performance enhancing drugs or steroids and figure " If

my favorite professional athlete can do it, so can I. "

For instance, I am reminded of the baseball steroid issue and the

steroid scandal involving BALCO labs, who catered to such athletes

as Barry Bonds, Giambi, and Olympian n . What a

horrible image to send to young people! It's cheating! This is

saying that you are not a winner unless you use drugs to help you

get the edge over your competition!

People do not consider the side effects from steroid use. There have

been cases reported of teens committing suicide, experiencing

rage...and let's not forget the freak changes that occur to their

bodies when they use steroids. All to be the perfect athlete.

Either we are so image obsessed or we are driven to be perfect. And

there is no perfect person on this earth.

We need to stress the importance of competing for the mere joy of

the sport. And of course for the exercise. We either push our kids

too much, or don't expect much out of them. And both have serious

repercussions on the physical & mental development of our kids. They

are looking at us as adults to lead them...and we must nip it in the

bud now, time to make responsible choices that will lead to a

healthy future.

Fixing the problem

In order to fix both of these problems, attitudes have got to

change. The need for programs in schools, such as P.E., recess, and

sports programs to keep kids active, should be a high priority.

Schools that have ditched these classes should reconsider. Physical

Education classes are just as vital as all other classes. No doubt,

exercise helps to alleviate stress. During those Phys.Ed classes,

and recess, kids need to burn off frustration and energy during this

time. Any physical movement is beneficial to every kid.

If we start early with our children, promoting physical fitness and

proper nutrition, it will become retained information, and they will

take it with them throughout life. If your child participates in a

sport of any kind, he/she should be reminded that they may not

always win. It's important to learn and grow in your sport of

choice as your skill becomes better and better. Sports should always

be played for the " love of the game " .

It all starts in the home, with great nurturing of our kids.

Nurturing them to become productive, happy individuals in society.

When we do this, we will see a drastic drop in negative statistics

involving childhood obesity, diseases, and steroid abuse.