The poor overall health, decreased quality of life, and disease related problems are what make childhood obesity one of the most important health and medical issues facing parents and their children. It is because of these health-related issues and the incredible increase in the number of obese children in our country (and many other nations) that childhood obesity has come to the forefront of disease prevention and medicine. Health problems and diseases previously only found in adults are now being diagnosed in children. To name a few: cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, abnormalities of the heart and arteries, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, and psychosocial problems. For the child whose obesity carries into adulthood they will continue to have increased cardiovascular risk factors, greater morbidity (more disease and poor health), an increased risk of premature death, and be at a social and economic disadvantage.1-7
The increase in the number of obese children has been recognized for over three decades8 yet the continued increase in children who are obese and the related increase in diseases previously found in the adult population, is testimony to the general lack of knowledge, ability, and motivation by the American people to put an end to what has become a problem of epidemic proportions. Most of the research in this area puts the primary cause of this problem directly in the hands of the parents!9-15 Parents determine the nutritional and activity environment in which each child is raised. Unfortunately, most of the parents grew up in a time when health, nutrition, and physical education were cut from the public education curriculum and now the majority of American adults live sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles and are unaware of the health related implications of their lifestyle- the same lifestyle they are passing down to the next generation, to their children.
Through the Future Generations Project (Foundation) and interventions like the Gen Fit Life program, are working to educate parents about the health problems related to childhood obesity, equip and enable them to lead more active and healthy lifestyles, and in doing so help the parents create a healthy home environment for their children – the next generation. Programs like Gen Fit Life also go directly to the children and give them a safe, welcoming, and fun environment in which to be active and to learn healthy lifestyle choices. Programs like Gen Fit Life are effective at reducing the risks for obesity-related diseases in children, improving their overall fitness levels, and improving their overall self-image.4, 16-22 Even with these great programs, the children will only have a fighting chance if their parents make changes in their home and community environments that promote activity and healthy nutritional choices.
I’m glad that you are here because that means that you too are interested in the health of your children – our Future Generation.
