Childhood Obesity is a Growing Problem – How To Stop It

How do we avoid childhood obesity in our children?

  A new report details what most parents know, why our children have stopped moving and childhood obesity is growing. Children will sit and play on technology all day if they are left. They don't need to interact as the technology engages them. So how do we avoid childhood obesity in our children?

The report also details that lack of space for children is a key factor and while i would agree this to some point i look at my own children and they simply prefer playing on technology to going out. We have parks and spaces near us but the lure of technology is too great. Simply put children are sitting too much.

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Its probably most prominent on holiday. How many of us have sat round a pool while our children hide under blankets watching videos? Not because there afraid of the sun but because they would rather play on technology than in the pool. What about travelling, every moment on technology. Its like an addiction. This inactivity is fueling a rise in childhood obesity.

So we know why children are inactive too much but what do we do about it?

How many parents have you heard bemoan the current generation that doesn't go out, doesn't come out their bedrooms or come off technology but those same parents are quite happy to allow technology to be a baby sitter or keep their children busy.

This isn't a blame game as we've all done it. Its too easy to let technology take this role with our children but like the child that is allowed to eat sweets and drink sugary drinks all day, there are consequences in later life. With technology we are beginning to understand the consequences but some are clear to us and we choose to ignore them reassuring ourselves, this is a new generation thing, parenting and being children has moved on. Well it has if we allow it to. Children are sitting too much are us parents have watched it happen.

Children in England growing up ‘sedentary, scrolling and alone’, say experts

That's the point this isn't something we can't control. We know why children have stopped moving. We are the adults in the room and its up to us to manage this the same way we do sweets and sugary drinks. If we don't our children grow older and blame us for poor teeth and them having diabetes. Its our jobs and to say and do otherwise, to stop the damage being done.

Again this is isn't a blame game. Reports like this highlight the risks and dangers than creep into our lives and how we as parents react. I'm guilty just as much as the next parent.

This isn't going to be a long blog. I think research like this is no great surprise to most parents. We know children are sitting for hours on end, not moving, scrolling through videos is not beneficial to our children's physical or mental welfare. I don't want my children to suffer childhood obesity so what am i going to do about it?

So we know the damage that's being done. We can't say we haven't been told.

We need to make time and space for our children to be able to play and interact more, get out of breath and be active. Yes government has a role but its not up to governments to bring up our children, its up to us as parents. Their our children and we know childhood obesity bring a range of negative health conditions.

Its up to us as parents to take positive action. To encourage more exercise and if that doesn't work take away technology.  Take them out to a park and get them moving.  Do so exercise in the house. Link exercise to technology time so the earn technology use.

Make it fun, create competition and give prizes of time.  This is going to be difficult and may be your're not in the best shape as well so take the opportunity to exercise as well.

Swimming is a great exercise. Skating is surprisingly tiring. Even bowling involves moving. The key is too start and keep at it.  Walk the dog. Wash the car as a chore.  Anything that gets them moving.

We've all been told.

This blog was written by an adoptive father of three from Essex who cannot share details to protect the welfare and well being of their adopted children.

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