A mother holding her newborn son might think ahead to his teen years with apprehension, worrying how she'll keep him away from drugs, pornography and gambling, from dropping out of high school or fathering an illegitimate child. That's a lot to worry about, but she better not stop there. The least rebellious child and the sweetest teen are still liable to adopt our society's newest vices: excessive eating and inactivity.
In the United States, about 15 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight, almost triple the number two decades ago. If the statistics hold steady, two-thirds of those children will become overweight adults, one-third of them obese.
Not only are overweight children susceptible to developing diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, they're susceptible to low self-esteem and depression. They miss out on the fun of natural exercise. They are often self-conscious about their weight. Especially in high school, they are likely to feel unattractive and unhappy with their social lives.
To combat this growing problem, some have sued fast food chains; others are cracking down on schools that sell junk food to their students. But there's only so much government can do. It can't step into the homes where children form lifelong habits. The surgeon general's Web site reports that 43 percent of children watch more than two hours of television per day. The government can't compensate for the negligent parenting behind such statistics.
Parents are the ones who must recognize the consequences of allowing children to play the Game Cube all afternoon, drinking Nesquik and munching Pop-Tarts. They must take responsibility for teaching their children healthy habits. They need to prepare nutritious meals, stop stocking the fridge with soda, turn off the television and shoo their children outdoors to play.
For parents whose children are obese, it's important to realize how sensitive their children may be about being overweight. The best way for parents to help them is to focus on being healthy, rather than on being slim. One recent study conducted in Great Britain has shown that stressed children are more likely to have unhealthy eating habits, which is one reason that pressuring children with diets and goal weights may backfire. Perhaps the best way parents can help prevent or overcome their child's obesity is to develop habits as a family that include eating healthy meals together and enjoying fun exercise.
However they do it, parents need to teach their children about nutrition and exercise and help them build good habits. Obesity is a health risk comparable to smoking, but few parents shield their children from junk food or videogames as they do cigarettes. It's time to start.