Obese Children Dilemma - Why Are Kids Overweight These Days?

The number of obese children today is somewhat a modern epidemic. Experts say that around 15% of kids these days are overweight with another 15% at risk of becoming obese. Most of these overweight kids will carry their weight problems into adulthood. What's the deal here? Why are so many kids becoming overweight?

Obese Children - The Blame Game

Many people lay the blame at the feet of fast food corporations. They say fast food restaurants are responsible for overweight kids, what with their emphasis on "Children’s Meals" and luring children into their "fun" yet calorie-intensive environment.

Other people blame modern advertising, which makes unhealthy food seem so desirable. With all these going on, it seems that kids have little chance but to ‘give in’ to unhealthy food. As a result, childhood obesity is perpetuated and kids are none the wiser.

Yet what about our individual responsibility here? As parents, we have the power to influence our children's eating and exercise habits. Consider the following.

Promoting bad diets. Too many kids eat high-sugar, calorie-intensive food that turn them into obese children. Whether it's from fast food or in the form of microwaveable meals, our kids are eating more and more unhealthy foods. Burgers, cakes, potato chips, and sodas at home are all to blame too.

Excessive TV. Many children these days are spending far too much time in front of the boob tube instead of playing outside. Video games are just as bad. They keep children glued to the sofa where they barely move. Consequently, fat builds up as there is no way for the children to burn off all the calories they consume eat. The result? Overweight kids.

Lack of choice at schools. Many preschools serve fruit juices without knowing how much sugar they actually contain (too much, that is). Then you have bigger schools with vending machines that make it easy for kids to buy sodas and other junk foods.

We all share the blame when it comes to obese children. What we should do is focus on getting them back on the health track by promoting lo carb snacks, healthy meals, and natural drink mixes that are low in sugar but are high in taste. Education is the key. It'll take time and effort but fortunately, we can fight childhood obesity and win the battle.

Make that choice to start making healthy options available at home. Be passionate about your kids’ health with Kanga Kooler.