The Obseity Epidemic - Do You Want You Family To Be Fat Or Fit?
You would have to have been living under a rock for the past 10 years to not know Australia has a weight problem. You may be overweight yourself, or a member of your household, in fact your child may even be overweight.
The incidence of obesity in Australia is growing at a shocking rate. In a Medical Journal of Australia study in 2000, it was found that of over 11,000 people who had their measurements taken, 60% of them were overweight or obese. That's a lot of fat people.
Why is it so?
There are only two reasons why a person is overweight.
1.) They eat too much.
2.) They move too little.
The worst thing you can do is kid yourself that you have extenuating circumstances, and that neither of the above applies to you.
This is a serious matter. Fat can make your life miserable, lonely and painful. It can leave you feeling unfulfilled, and it can kill you.
Between 1981 and 2000, the incidence of diabetes doubled in Australia - that's incredible.
Our children are fat too. Currently, the most prevalent health issues affecting our children are all preventable - think about that one. They include obesity, dental disease, and emotional and behavioural problems.
Nearly 25% of children are overweight or obese with the rate rising 1% per year. By 2025, half our children will be overweight.
Why are children so fat? The same two reasons adults are. They eat too much, and they don't exercise enough. It's time to be blunt, if you're child is fat, it's most probably your fault. Children do not have access to money unless you give it to them. They do not have access to junk food - unless you give it to them.
Our modern lifestyle
The reasons why we move so little and eat so many calories are many, too many to discuss here. They include our modern sedentary lifestyle of sitting at a desk all day, getting in the car and driving home only to sit in front of the tv before we go to bed.
The Medical Journal of Australia study found a strong correlation between the number of hours spent watching tv and the rate of obesity. It was thought this may be because watching television fosters mindless and continual eating, and sparks cravings for junk food.
We have energy saving devices like remote television controls and garage doors, sometimes in the same house as treadmills and weights??
We do not see where our food comes from, and therefore we do not know what is in it. We live in a society where food is sold not only in restaurants and supermarkets but also; train stations, football games, movie theatres, even outside hardware stores.
We are bombarded with it on television, billboards in glossy magazines and junk mail. Food is big business and the cheaper it can be produced, the larger the profit margin for the companies selling it, and the poorer quality of food we are sold.
What can we do?
There is some good news, however. The Medical Journal of Australia also states that, "Maternal education is the strongest social determinant of overweight and obesity in children." In other words, mothers, and parents, have the power to make their children either healthy, happy and active, or fat and miserable.
Most importantly, parents need to lead by example. If your child sees you tucking into a packet of Tim Tams with no restraint, how will they fathom a different set of rules for themselves?
Before we talk about weight loss and what you can do to get your family back on the straight and narrow, let's talk about junk food.
What is junk food? By definition 'junk food' is food that tastes good, but is high in fat (sugar and chemicals) and has little or no nutritional value.
One of the best tips I have ever heard to jump start a healthy diet is to not eat food if you can't tell what it is made from just by looking at it. Fruit is fruit, but what do you think would be in a jar of that marshmallow stuff you spread on toast, or a Chicken-in-a-biscuit, or French onion dip?
Read the label on these highly processed foods and you will see they are packed with saturated fat, than smothered with either sugar or salty tasting msg.
Here are some tips for making your family fit, not fat.
1. Don't keep junk food in the house. Think about what you are putting in your trolley.
2. If you consider takeaway food to be a treat, have it very occasionally - once every couple of months.
3. Be prepared to cook. This is the only way you will know what you're eating. You can actually buy cookbooks which have recipes that are very fast to prepare.
4. Play games outside with your children. The benefits won't be just physical.
5. Don't reward your children with food.
6. Don't make food such a big deal in the family. Food is fuel, not a hobby.
7. Grow your own pot of tomatoes or lettuce, so your children can see where their food comes from.
8. Turn off the television. You'll be surprised and alarmed at what a loose end the family is at without the mindless sound of television in the background. This won't last for long though.
9. Pack your children's lunches. Lunch money at the average tuckshop will be too much of a temptation for them.
10. Read labels. If you can't understand what is in a product put it down. Invest in a pocket sized food additives book, now available at many supermarkets. Find out what is really in the food you're eating, and do some work on the web to find out what possible affects these additives could have. You might find you don't want them in your system.
The incidence of obesity in Australia is growing at a shocking rate. In a Medical Journal of Australia study in 2000, it was found that of over 11,000 people who had their measurements taken, 60% of them were overweight or obese. That's a lot of fat people.
Why is it so?
There are only two reasons why a person is overweight.
1.) They eat too much.
2.) They move too little.
The worst thing you can do is kid yourself that you have extenuating circumstances, and that neither of the above applies to you.
This is a serious matter. Fat can make your life miserable, lonely and painful. It can leave you feeling unfulfilled, and it can kill you.
Between 1981 and 2000, the incidence of diabetes doubled in Australia - that's incredible.
Our children are fat too. Currently, the most prevalent health issues affecting our children are all preventable - think about that one. They include obesity, dental disease, and emotional and behavioural problems.
Nearly 25% of children are overweight or obese with the rate rising 1% per year. By 2025, half our children will be overweight.
Why are children so fat? The same two reasons adults are. They eat too much, and they don't exercise enough. It's time to be blunt, if you're child is fat, it's most probably your fault. Children do not have access to money unless you give it to them. They do not have access to junk food - unless you give it to them.
Our modern lifestyle
The reasons why we move so little and eat so many calories are many, too many to discuss here. They include our modern sedentary lifestyle of sitting at a desk all day, getting in the car and driving home only to sit in front of the tv before we go to bed.
The Medical Journal of Australia study found a strong correlation between the number of hours spent watching tv and the rate of obesity. It was thought this may be because watching television fosters mindless and continual eating, and sparks cravings for junk food.
We have energy saving devices like remote television controls and garage doors, sometimes in the same house as treadmills and weights??
We do not see where our food comes from, and therefore we do not know what is in it. We live in a society where food is sold not only in restaurants and supermarkets but also; train stations, football games, movie theatres, even outside hardware stores.
We are bombarded with it on television, billboards in glossy magazines and junk mail. Food is big business and the cheaper it can be produced, the larger the profit margin for the companies selling it, and the poorer quality of food we are sold.
What can we do?
There is some good news, however. The Medical Journal of Australia also states that, "Maternal education is the strongest social determinant of overweight and obesity in children." In other words, mothers, and parents, have the power to make their children either healthy, happy and active, or fat and miserable.
Most importantly, parents need to lead by example. If your child sees you tucking into a packet of Tim Tams with no restraint, how will they fathom a different set of rules for themselves?
Before we talk about weight loss and what you can do to get your family back on the straight and narrow, let's talk about junk food.
What is junk food? By definition 'junk food' is food that tastes good, but is high in fat (sugar and chemicals) and has little or no nutritional value.
One of the best tips I have ever heard to jump start a healthy diet is to not eat food if you can't tell what it is made from just by looking at it. Fruit is fruit, but what do you think would be in a jar of that marshmallow stuff you spread on toast, or a Chicken-in-a-biscuit, or French onion dip?
Read the label on these highly processed foods and you will see they are packed with saturated fat, than smothered with either sugar or salty tasting msg.
Here are some tips for making your family fit, not fat.
1. Don't keep junk food in the house. Think about what you are putting in your trolley.
2. If you consider takeaway food to be a treat, have it very occasionally - once every couple of months.
3. Be prepared to cook. This is the only way you will know what you're eating. You can actually buy cookbooks which have recipes that are very fast to prepare.
4. Play games outside with your children. The benefits won't be just physical.
5. Don't reward your children with food.
6. Don't make food such a big deal in the family. Food is fuel, not a hobby.
7. Grow your own pot of tomatoes or lettuce, so your children can see where their food comes from.
8. Turn off the television. You'll be surprised and alarmed at what a loose end the family is at without the mindless sound of television in the background. This won't last for long though.
9. Pack your children's lunches. Lunch money at the average tuckshop will be too much of a temptation for them.
10. Read labels. If you can't understand what is in a product put it down. Invest in a pocket sized food additives book, now available at many supermarkets. Find out what is really in the food you're eating, and do some work on the web to find out what possible affects these additives could have. You might find you don't want them in your system.