12 Sep Why Our Children Are Obese And How to Help Them

1 in 3 children is either overweight or obese.  A child who is overweight or obese is 10x’s more likely to be over weight or obese as an adult. We all want the children in our lives to be happy and healthy, but a recent WebMD Sanford Health survey found that parents and loved ones find it more difficult to talk to children about weight than sex, drugs, alcohol, or smoking! Why are we afraid to discuss it?  Ignoring the problem doesn’t solve it. Barriers that impede discussion: 1.  Fear of inducing an eating disorder - No evidence exists that talking to your children about healthy eating and activity in a loving, caring, productive, and motivating manner is harmful. 2.  Our own struggles - Whether we are overweight or underweight our own struggles and “demons” affect our willingness to discuss the problem.