An alarming 30% of adults, age 20 and older, are obese and I am certain that we are all well aware of this.  We also are well aware that the cause of this epidemic is poor nutritional habits and inactivity.

   Unfortunately, instead of seeing this as a red flag, we, as a population, are systematically ignoring and accepting this nightmare.  Our health is getting worse.

   Of particular concern is the escalating fatness of our children.  The obesity rates have risen significantly, again, in the past few years and it is not showing any signs of slowing down. 
 


   Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association exploring this problem.  The study shows that in 2000, 13.9% of kids were obese, as compared to 17.1% being obese in 2004 and up to 1/3 are overweight or obese.  If that isn't scary enough, children as young as 2 - 5 years also had an obesity increase from 10.3% in 2000 to 13.9% in 2004.

   What will come of this accelerating epidemic of childhood obesity?  A shorter American life span?  Researchers say yes.

   Sure, medical advances will reduce death rates from various diseases, but the onrushing disaster may overshadow all these advances.  

   Davis S. Ludwig, MD, Phd, of Children's Hospital in Boston states that, "Obesity rates are increasing fastest among children, and they will carry obesity-related health risks throughout their lives.  An adult who gains a pound or 2 a year through middle age will be at increased risk.  But that is much less dire than the overweight 4- to 6-year old who gets diabetes at age 14 or 16 and has a heart attack before age 30."  

   This impending disaster will bring to our young people serious complications such as diabetes, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and increased mortality.

   The simple answer to this is to take responsibility for your, and your family's, nutrition and physical activity.  Through proper diet and exercise we can brighten our futures and enlighten others along the way.  Children are more apt to eat healthy and exercise if they see their parents doing it first.  
   
   Children will reap many benefits from light strength training, a fun cardiovascular program, and a healthy eating plan.  

   An old myth that weight lifting stunts vertical growth has been repeatedly stamped out.  As a matter of fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated in Pediatrics, vol 107 No. 6 June 2001 pp. 1470 - 1472 that "Strength training programs do not seem to adversely affect linear growth and do not seem to have any long-term detrimental effect on cardiovascular health, as evidenced in recent studies."

   Some of the benefits of resistance training in adolescents and preadolescents are increased strength, improved sports (or play) performance, prevent or rehabilitate injuries, and enhance long-term health.  A properly designed exercise program for children can enhance all these and other beneficial attributes without concomitant muscle hypertrophy. 

                    

    Proper family nutrition can be obtained simply through reading and following my book "Ms. Muscles' Cookbook and Targeted Optimal Nutrition Guide."  It is in an easy-to-read format and clearly explains my simple three-step approach to optimal nutrition.  It is packed with 106 delicious recipes that are made with basic, everyday, whole food items.  Please see my merchandise page for more information.