Americans today have confused raising “Super Kids” with raising “Super Big Kids”. A new study confirms that over the last decade, childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., hitting boys, African Americans, Hispanics, and kids living in Southern states the hardest.

The research, published in the recent Dec. 12, 2002 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, represents the most comprehensive national picture of weight trends among children over the last two decades. From 1986 to 1998, the number of non-Hispanic white children who were overweight doubled from 6% to 12%. The research suggests that roughly one in five African-American and Hispanic children are overweight -- a startling 120% increase during the 12-year study period.

So what is to blame for the rapidly expanding waistlines of our children? The truth is there are many factors leading to this condition.

Our modern society has changed so rapidly over the past few decades. Many changes have been for the better but many have not. One of those changes that has definitely not been for the better has been the change of our eating habits.

The pressures and conveniences the marketing world has offered, has made raising healthy, lean children a difficult task to say the least. As if making a healthy meal at home wasn’t difficult enough, the lure of super-gigantic value meals at various fast food restaurants and “soft drink” machines found in almost every hallway of just about every school, turns the job of a health-minded parent into a near insurmountable task.

Weight gain isn't “rocket science” but it does follow a simple Law of Thermodynamics. When more calories are taken into the body than burned by the body, the result is a net gain of weight, as the excess unburned calories are stored in the body as fat.

So if someone would like to stop the gain of weight or loose weight, they must take in the same or less calories, either as food or drink, than they burn.

One of the major culprits in the fattening the nation's children has been the role in of sodas and other sugary drinks, including processed fruit juices, as the average child takes in thousands of calories a week just from these sugar laden beverages.

The lifestyles of our “sophisticated” children have compounded their weight problems even more. The average American child’s exercise level has dropped to little or none as he or she spends most of their free time parked in front of TVs, computers, and video consoles.

A study released in December of 2001, by insurance provider CIGNA Corporation, found that children now spend an average of 14 hours watching television per week. Children aged 12-14 average almost seven hours per week playing video games. This trend is affecting far more than the weight of America's children as it is affecting their health as well.

It appears the term adult-onset diabetes needs to be renamed. In the past, adult-onset or Type II diabetes, which is linked to obesity and sedentary lifestyle, has been rare in children but during the past five years there has been a 10-fold increase in the number of children with Type II diabetes, now accounting for 40% to 50% of the diabetes among children. Not only that, but when it comes to treating children, doctors are seeing more high blood pressure than have seen in the past -- another weight-related problem.

Most children with weight problems become adults with weight problems. When you realize statistically that an extra twenty-five pounds on a forty-five year old man will reduce his lifespan by 25%, it’s hard to imagine how many years the young children of America won’t be around to enjoy.

Since weight problems equal health and longevity of life problems, it’s time to tackle them at the root cause, which is what our children both eat and drink.

Don’t expect the government, medical establishment, or school system to solve these issues as these entities run on revenue not love for our children.

There is no one in this world that will ever love our children more than the parents of these children. This is where the true responsibility and accountability lies not only before man but before God.

Parents of these children, our nation’s future, much become educated and in turn educate their children as to how to eat for life before they are lost to ill-health and early death.

We took this challenge on a number of years ago due to certain circumstances that caused us to make some tough decisions regarding our diet. Since that time though, we have seen remarkable changes in the health of our entire family.

Some 12 years ago, our health insurance went through the roof due to coverage on a Rh blood factor condition on our first born. This resulted in the decision to drop our health insurance and begin to look at ways to insure our health before illness rather than after.

After all our research and prayers for the truth, we discover the key to health was in live foods. When we discovered this over 5 years ago, we began implementing more and more live foods, that is raw, fresh fruits and vegetables, into our family’s diet until the unhealthy, lifeless foods were eliminated.

It didn’t happen overnight and I’m glad it didn’t because each change had a chance to solidify, giving us a stepping stone to make our next change.

Some interesting changes took place after we got off the Standard American Diet including meat and dairy, and went on a mostly raw fresh fruit and vegetable with lots of juicing and Barleygreen™.

Our children’s growth rate per year increased, their colds per year became a non-issue, and things like asthma and athlete's foot simply went away. Today, none of our seven children are overweight but are strong, active, healthy youngsters.

It’s quite obvious that excess weight is the product of an improper diet and lifestyle. We as parents hold the keys to children’s health and future as we are the ones that initially feed them, teaching them how to eat for life.

Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” then said, “If you love me, feed my sheep”, in others words feed them in such a manner as to nourish them and give them life (eternally).

Here’s a question directed to the parents of America, “Do you love your children?” ... Then feed them in such a manner as to nourish them and give them life.

Andrew & Romsey Foote
It’s Your Health
E-mail: andrew@itsyourhealth2.com