Raising healthy children
AS parents, we all want the best for our children. I hope that also goes for our children’s health. Without a doubt, modern society has made our children more sedentary now more than ever. Gadgets, efficiency, everything in our fingertips and the lack of playgrounds have made our children clumsy, lazy and fatter than in previous generations. We get complaints from parents who rightfully long for the good old days, thinking when can our children now climb trees, play outdoors and run on the streets. Our roads today are smaller too, with so many cars, and outdoors may also be polluted. Modern society has made our lives more efficient but it has also made our children unhealthy.
Why is it important to raise healthy kids?
1. BMI at childhood is related to BMI in adulthood.
Studies have proven this. However, your Body Mass Index at the age of 12 strongly relates to your Body Mass Index in your 40s. Heavy children definitely make heavier adults.
2. Form health habits.
It’s easier to have a healthy lifestyle if you grew up with healthy habits. If your child is growing up eating pizza, ice cream and chips, don’t expect them to like vegetables later on.
3. Diseases reserved for adults are making their way to children
Childhood obesity and diabetes are on the rise not only worldwide but also in our country. Surely, people think that excess caloric consumption is reserved for first-world countries, but third-world nations like ours also suffer from people who eat too much and burn few calories. Statistics show that these diseases happen at an early age, leading more people to have poor quality of life and decreased productivity.
As parents and communities who care for the welfare of the children, it is incumbent upon us to train them in the way they should go. So when they get older, they won’t depart from it. That is wise advice even for our health.
Healthy children equals healthy adults, and healthy people are productive people. Let your children grow to lead productive and progressive lives!
For Part 2, I will talk about simple food strategies which all our children should follow.*