Dec 162011
 

Childhood obesity is still a very big problem even with recent news saying that “the number of obese New York City schoolchildren fell by 5.5 percent over five years”, federal and city officials said Thursday, offering a glimmer of optimism about one of the country’s intractable health scourges.

However; when searching for kids Weight loss program, obese children, teen obesity, teens and overweight children, obese teen, diet program for overweight child, teen diet, childhood obesity they are many programs available. But which diet is safe for kids?

Childhood obesity has become one of the most pressing health crises in the United States, but the childhood obesity epidemic has now spread to many countries and continents.

Childhood obesity has become one of the most pressing health crises in the United States, but the childhood obesity epidemic has now spread to many countries and continents.

Causes of Childhood Obesity

Lack of physical activity or sedentary lifestyle                       

Eats more calories than he or she expends

Too much fat in the diet

Too much sugar in the diet

Family genetics

 

If you child is over weight, you can start them on a obesity diet for kids which is nutritionally balanced, high protein, low calorie an low fat meal replacement and calorie restriction diet. Our obesity diet is safe for kids 2 and older. (read more pdf) Our diet will help your child lose weight safely and naturally and help create new healthier eating habits, but you child must also become more active and participate in exercises for kids.

 

Why is exercise or physical activity important for my child?

Increased physical activity has been associated with an increased life expectancy and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.  Physical activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits. Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults. And physical activity helps with

  • controlling weight
  • reducing blood pressure
  • raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol
  • reducing the risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancer
  • improved psychological well-being, including gaining more self-confidence and higher self-esteem

How do I promote physical activity in my child?

  • Physical activity should be increased by reducing sedentary time (e.g., watching television, playing computer video games or talking on the phone).
  • Physical activity should be fun for children and adolescents.
  • Parents should try to be role models for active lifestyles and provide children with opportunities for increased physical activity.

What if my child is uncoordinated or overweight?

All children, even less-coordinated ones, need to be physically active.  Activity may be particularly helpful for the physical and psychological well-being of children with a weight problem.

The American Heart Association recommends:

  • All children age 2 and older should participate in at least 60 minutes of enjoyable, moderate-intensity physical activities every day that are developmentally appropriate and varied.
  • If your child or children don’t have a full 60-minute activity break each day, try to provide at least two 30-minute periods or four 15-minute periods in which they can engage in vigorous activities appropriate to their age, gender and stage of physical and emotional development.
Learn more about which of our products are safe for kids, and review our obesity diet for kids, teens and adults.

Dec 152011
 

Do stay-at-home moms have kids that are less likely to be obese? Childhood obesity is a growing problem, and now a new study links obesity in kids to moms who work outside the home.

 

Moms Who Stay at Home vs. Moms Who Work                                      

 

For some women, staying at home isn’t an option. But according to a recent study published in the journal Child Development, moms who work outside the home are more likely to have obese children than moms who stay at home.

 

When researchers closely followed 900 grade-school children in ten cities nationwide, they found that kids with moms who worked outside the home had greater body mass indexes (BMI) than children who grow up in a family with a stay-at-home mom. This weight discrepancy was more pronounced in older grade-school kids than in younger ones. They also found the more years a mom worked outside the home, the greater the weight gain among her offspring. For every five months a mom worked, a child would weigh about a pound more than expected.

 

Obese Children: Should Moms Who Work Be Concerned?

 

This study should certainly raise concerns, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that working outside the home increases a child’s risk of being overweight or obese. For one thing, this study doesn’t take into account why a mom is working. If a mom works because money is tight, it could affect food choices and stress levels in the home, which could alter a child’s eating habits. This may not be true for moms who work because they enjoy it.

 

There are several reasons why stay-at-home moms might have slimmer children than working mothers. A mom who stays at home and has time to cook may be less likely to serve a child fast food or processed foods than working moms. Moms who work may have less time to spend with their kids, which means the kids spend more of their free hours in front of the television or computer.

 

Obese Children and Working Moms: Should Moms Who Work Be Concerned?

 

It’s not always practical to quit work and become a stay-at-home mom.  But you can reduce the amount of fast-food and processed food your kids eat and take steps to keep them active while you’re at work. Get a cookbook that shows how to prepare healthy, crockpot recipes. Put the ingredients into the pot in the morning so it will be ready when you get off from work.

 

Another option is to prepare healthy meals on the weekend and store them in the freezer to be ready to serve during the week when time is tight. Whatever you do, take the time to sit down and eat a meal as a family whenever possible – and schedule activities for your kids to do while you’re at work to keep them more active.

The Bottom Line?

 

Don’t give up your job but make sure the kids aren’t lying in front of the T.V. while you work and make sure they get a healthy dinner – not processed food or fast food. This will go far towards keeping them slim.

 

Are you struggling to make ends meet? Consider a work from home job in the weight loss and nutrition industry and make some extra money while providing your family better eating habits and healthy lifestyle changes with the Isagenix business opportunity.

 

References:

 

Eurekalert.org. “Children’s BMI Found to Rise the Longer Their Mothers Work”


Dec 132011
 

Depending on where the topic of public funding for obesity treatments takes place, you will get wide differing and often heated debates on the subject.

In researching the topic, most professional, medical or health agencies are only concerned with the health effects of obesity treatment and for good reason. As noted daily across new agencies around the globe, obesity, health and health care costs associated obesity and related disease is epidemic.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicade Services (CMS) and health officials recently announces that Medicare to Pay for Obesity Counseling, but to the best of my knowledge it covers just testing and counseling in a physicians office, it does not include some of the popular Obesity diet foods such as OPTIFAST, ISAGENIX or other low calorie, high protein meal replacement meals or other appetite suppression and dietary fiber supplements all need to lose weight.

Additionally, it does not cover any form of exercise, physical therapy or gym memberships, even if only for the 6 month limitation allowed by the Medicare-Obesity Counseling reforms.

Should your tax dollars be used to fund obesity treatments?

I personally do not feel that the obesity treatments and counseling outlined by Medicare, will be sufficient to address the health problems and a life time of over eating and bad nutrition and exercise habits. In many cases, without any further support from the attending doctor until the next follow up (generally a week later) the patient is left alone with the same foods and no additional support.

Should your tax dollars be used for Obesity Diet Foods?

The basic cost of the OPTIFAST and ISAGENIX diet foods are about a $100.00-$125.00 per week. OPTIFAST products are basically an assortment of protein drinks, ready made or powders, a protein bars. OPTIFAST also offers vitamins dietary fiber.

ISAGENIX, is a complete cleanse and fat burning system that also contains low calorie, high protein meal replacements shakes, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber supplements and chocolate snakes to reduce cravings. What sets ISAGENIX apart from OPTIFAST is the cleanse that also rids the body of toxins and stored fat.

Isagenix is also designed as a lifestyle change, not a temporary diet. Once on Isagenix products, he is best to stay on them for optimal health, nutrition and continued weight management. OPTIFAST is designed to be  rapid calorie restriction diet as a precursor to Bariatric sugary and not a long term diet and lifestyle change.

Other health and disease complications associated with Obesity.

People with obesity generally also suffer from diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and also suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). I can tell that prescription medications to treat any of these symptoms on a monthly basis is more that the cost of the OPTIFAST or ISAGENIX diet foods. This is not including any visits to the doctors office for routine visits or complications.

Other Options for obesity treatments. 

The other option is an expensive lap band or Bariatric or Weight loss surgery is both complex and costly. For example, the average cost for the gastric bypass procedure ranges from $18,000 to $35,000, while the average cost for adjustable gastric banding withLap-Band ranges from $17,000 to $30,000.

Generally, prior to Bariatric sugary, patients are usually required to lose weight prior to any Weight loss surgery, so there is an additional cost to the patient of 4100-4125.00 a week.

Should YOUR Tax Dollars Fund Obesity Treatments?

I think they should, the burden of an growing obesity epidemic and an already strained health care system needs to get the problem fixed and soon. Obesity and obesity related diseases and illness will soon be the number killer and it is cheaper to allow not only for obesity counseling, but also for the diet foods needed to bring weight under control and even short term gym memberships, that is will be to pay for expensive Weight loss surgery, continued treatments for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, etc.

The arguments and often heated debates I have read in various online forums are steadfast against public funding for obesity treatments. This is especially true when it comes to diet foods, but many people don not understand that the majority of people affected by mild or severe obesitytend to be lower income, women and now children. These people are generally on some type of public assistance because they are generally unempoyable due to obesity and the health limitations that comes with obesity related complications.

So, if you can help obese people lose weight, and limit or reduce some of the immobility and health restraints, then we can return people back to society and become a more productive part of society. This saving will be 10 fold vs not allowing for public funding for obesity treatments.

What Are Your Thoughts? Should Your Tax Dollars Fund Obesity?