Health and fitness: Let us eradicate obesity in the youth of America!

The health and fitness of youth in America is fast approaching a crisis stage. Obesity in children and teenagers is fast becoming an epidemic. It is stated that by medical professionals that for the first time ever, the life span of today's youth is expected to be shorter than their parents!

Shaq O'Neal has had a 6 week reality show, Tuesday evenings at 9 PM, (EDT) on the ABC channel this summer. The television show ended last evening. Shaq took 6 kids from Broward County in Florida, all of whom were found to be in the morbid obese category and for nine months worked to change their dietary habits, their physiques through a health and fitness regimen, and their mindsets and belief within themselves. The results were astonishing. All of these 6 kids lost weight, (one young man lost 77 pounds, another 52 pounds), and all were no longer in the obese category as examined by a medical doctor after that time period. Shaq, along with the 6 kids, 2 personal trainers, educators, a nutritionist, a chef, and his former college basketball coach then met with the governor of Florida to address the need for mandatory physical fitness programs, and nutritional lunch programs in the schools, as well as after-school exercise programs for the entire state of Florida. It was very impressive.

What is needed in the other 49 states in this country is attention to detail with regards to the health and fitness towards all children and adolescents. Too many children are drastically overweight. Too many will die before they reach age 50. That will become a fact unless everyone is willing to do something about it NOW!

I have drawn up a list that parents need to address and implement with regards to their children's health and fitness. Parents, your children's lives depend on your willingness to give full attention to the situation.

1). Parents - I understand that many of you work full-time, (some of you are single parents) and you have to provide for your off-spring. However, you must place your children, first! Pay more attention to what goes on in your children's lives! Is your job more important than your child's health?

2). Get your children off of the couch, away from the television, computer, PlayStations, and XBoxes. It is a fact that today's children lead much more of a sedentary life compared to the youth of even one generation ago, (20 years). The sophistication and development of electronic "toys" in the 21st century, while engaging the minds of adolescents, does nothing with regards to their health. Children do not get physical exercise sitting in front of a television playing video games, (unless you allow for the exercise that one's fingers get controlling the joysticks, remotes, and etc.) What usually happens while these youth are entertaining themselves is that they are snacking on unhealthy foods, (junk food snacks) and drinking sugar-filled drinks. Complete lack of exercise combined with the huge intake of chips, candy, cakes, and cookies eventually leads to obesity. That is almost guaranteed!

3). Enroll your children in sports' programs, (YMCA, youth sports teams) that will engage them in physical activity. If such programs are not available, (and unfortunately in some towns across the US this is a fact) think of other alternatives. Why not set a time each evening in which you walk around the neighborhood with your child? Start out slowly, then extend the length and pace of each walk. The both of you will benefit through the cardiovascular workout, as well as the chance to engage in some "bonding-time" together. Come up with an idea, then stick to a plan that involves your child engaging in some form of physical activity.

4). The saying is "We are what we eat". Parents, it is your responsibility to place proper nutrition as of foremost importance when it comes to what your children eat. Again, I understand that many parents work full-time. Cooking meals in the evening after working 8-9 hours at a job can be time-consuming, and too much of a chore. The proliferation of fast food restaurants offering take-out food, or frozen meals meant to be placed in microwave ovens, cooked, and ready to eat in 4 minutes or less means convenience for everyone. However, it is not in the best interest of your children's health. Take out food usually is high in calories, fat, sodium - all of the things that eventually will lead to long-term health problems. You need to limit fast food meals to about one evening per week, not 5-6. Instead, provide children with well-proportioned, balanced meals, (including fresh, or steamed vegetables which are high in antioxidants and vitamins).

5). Substitute the high intake of sugar-filled drinks, (juices and sodas) with bottled/filtered water. Sugar can lead to eventual diabetes in everyone when ingested in high levels over a period of years, and especially if the disease is in your family history. Parents, better yet, set an example. Drink more water yourself, and less Cherry Coca-Colas, modeling for your off-spring. Children have been known to follow a parent's example.

6). Severely limit the intake of junk food. If necessary parents, simply do not allow it in your household. Eating huge amounts of Snickers Bars, Twinkies, pizza, Oreo cookies is guaranteed to eventually put weight on a person's frame. Over the long term it could lead to obesity, which results in many health problems; mainly heart disease and diabetes. Instead, encourage kids to eat fruit more often instead of the 5 scoops of fattening ice cream that they eat as a snack before bed time. (Actually, children should be discouraged from eating anything 3-4 hours before bedtime, anyway).

7). Parents, if any of your children are overweight, and you are concerned about getting them involved in physical fitness, please consult your physician about the right type of physical activity, diet and nutrition that would be suitable for them. But, by all means do something! Your child's life will depend on it!

Everyone is encouraged to visit the website which has been devoted to addressing obesity in children, set up in Shaq O'Neal's name. If parents need help implementing a plan to help their children with regards to their health and fitness, diet, nutrition, and exercise, please click here. It may be the most important thing that you do today!

The health and fitness of American youths needs to be addressed in the most serious manner possible by our adult leaders. I will repeat again, medical professionals have stated that the life expectancy of today's youth will be shorter than their parents. I implore all parents, educators, political leaders; every adult to see that this statistic does not become fact!

I welcome any comments to this post.

Health and fitness