| Childhood obesity is making the papers. The numbers | | | | struggle more than a few pounds, have other things |
| are up. Is it any wonder?By: Nan Andrews AmishPhys | | | | going on, that if they are not addressed, will make |
| ed classes are not funded in many public schools, | | | | this an uphill battle. They may be deficient in a |
| they are ineffective in many others. Fat is the last | | | | nutrient. Vitamin C is a common deficiency with kids |
| legal bias. Kids make fun of anyone different, and the | | | | who crave sugar for example, potassium is often |
| fat kid is fair game. Heaven help the fat kid in a | | | | lacking in kids who like salt. Kids who have had lots of |
| shorts, where the fat can hang out for all to see. | | | | antibiotics may not have good intestinal flora and |
| Bullies will take aim and not let up. | | | | need acidophilous, bifidus. Kids who seem to be |
| Kids spend hours in front of computers, and their | | | | eating all the time and are always hungry, may have |
| neighborhoods are unsafe.Here are some strategies | | | | something more severe going on. Sugar addictions, |
| for growing strong, healthy, mentally and emotionally | | | | wheat allergies, pre-diabetes, or even a parasite.11. If |
| stable kids.Emotionally1. Acknowledge that you know | | | | you have an overweight child and have other children |
| that it hurts when kids make fun of them because | | | | who are not in the same space, having a family |
| of how they look. Help them build emotional | | | | meeting where the entire family decides how they |
| intelligence by acknowledging how they do feel, and | | | | will help each other address EACH of family members |
| help them build empathy for others who are different | | | | issues helps. Calling out the fat child's issues is |
| and also made fun of.2. Acknowledge that you know | | | | humiliating, but if the family helps one child with |
| that there are kids who eat worse than they do, and | | | | spelling mastery and another child with food, it all |
| who do not have the struggle they have with | | | | evens out and engenders family (team) spirit. If the |
| weight. The message is that you appreciate it may | | | | family decides that to help the child struggling with |
| not be fair and that getting healthy is not easy, and | | | | food that there will be no Oreos in the house, the |
| it is not necesarily their fault, but that they still are | | | | support is strong. |
| responsible for doing what they can to manage it. | | | | Give them an edge12. Go for the organic. Skip the |
| Watching a skinny minny eat cookies and milk shakes | | | | Costco and Wallmart specials. Kids who are |
| and sandwiches and french fries and never gain a | | | | overweight are sensitive to stuff other kids are not. |
| pound is discouraging as you eat your lettuce, carrots | | | | Organic foods will have less additives, less hormones |
| and lean chicken or tuna.Food and Diet | | | | (designed to help cattle and chicken GAIN weight), |
| 3. If the kid is eating alot of junk food, see if you | | | | less genetically modified foods to be allergic too, less |
| can modify these habits. Junk food stacks the deck | | | | chemicals to create immune responses to. Organic |
| against kids, because the processed white sugar, the | | | | produce tastes better too, and it might be less of |
| processed white flour and the food additives are | | | | struggle to get a child to snack on cherry tomatoes |
| DESIGNED to be addictive and DESIGNED to increase | | | | that melt in your mouth than on tomatoes that taste |
| appetite. Deprivation is not the key, but choosing | | | | like cardboard.13. Grow other kid strengths. If they |
| treat foods wisely helps. Give them messages like | | | | are great at spelling, encourage them to compete in |
| their body is their temple, they need to treat it well. | | | | the spelling bee. If they are musically inclined, find |
| Offer metaphors like would they put lard in a sports | | | | them places to sing, play. If computers or video |
| car. No, they would put the best fuel in it they could | | | | games are their thing, help them get very good at |
| afford. Bodies are like that.4. Invite overweight kids | | | | these skills, so they will have confidence from these |
| to shop with you, and teach them to read labels. | | | | other perspectives.14. Be empathetic about their |
| Have them become the experts, so they have the | | | | looks. Appreciate that a plea from an overweight |
| tools to choose wisely and or splurge, but understand | | | | child to "blend in" or "fit in" is more charged than a |
| the meaning of the splurge.5. Invite (as opposed to | | | | plea from a child who is more mainstream looking. |
| force or punish) overweight kids to try various foods | | | | Help them choose clothes that are flattering and |
| that might help them eat less junk. For example, | | | | really fit them well. Make sure that they have clothes |
| fresh fruits. A burrito with filling protein like beans, as | | | | they can move in which are not uncomfortable. (I |
| opposed to totally empty calories. Nuts as opposed | | | | knew one teen who hated to walk until she got |
| to chips. Baby carrots, even.Exercise | | | | some shorts and slacks that did not chafe, for |
| 6. For most overweight kids the best way to assist | | | | example. Then she walked everywhere, because the |
| them is to crank up their metabolism. Exercise is the | | | | pants were not rubbing a hole in her thigh!) Make |
| best way to do this. Fit kids get bullied less. Fit, | | | | sure they find clothes which are age appropriate, and |
| strong kids rarely get bullied. Fit, self confident, strong | | | | have enough style that they are not the butt of |
| kids with an exceptional physical skill never get bullied. | | | | more bullying because of their clothes. This will cost |
| If the kid has rhythm, get them into dance, t'ai chi, | | | | more than you would prefer, since most larger sizes |
| akido. If they have two left feet, have them try kick | | | | cost extra, and alterations are always on top. Know |
| boxing or wrestling. If they like team stuff, soccer is | | | | a good place to get stuff altered too, so if you have |
| great and there are teams available for all skills and all | | | | to buy a larger size to accomodate a larger tummy |
| genders. If they are particularly "round" and have lots | | | | the rest of the garment is not so big there is room |
| of soft baby fat, try swimming, they will float better | | | | for Aunt Matilda in there too. Here is where you can |
| than any of their thinner buddies. Weight lifting for | | | | REALLY help your child fit it. By buying slightly better |
| boys can be a win.7. Martial arts is always a win. It | | | | quality, fabrics that do not show fat bulges for |
| builds discipline, muscle, aerobic capacity and | | | | example, or a garment that is made really well and |
| confidence. Choose according the child's capabilities, or | | | | hangs great, will make your child look smaller than |
| try what their friends or geographic locality has | | | | they are. Good undergarments count too, especially |
| available. Kids who know martial arts know how to | | | | for girls. Find a way to make them feel special with |
| breath, they know how to focus, they have strength | | | | accessories for example, or shoes.15. Back to basics, |
| both internal and external. They do not get bullied.8. | | | | they are not alone. Let them know, that they are |
| Health is the best revenge. So use every opportunity | | | | beautiful inside. Appreciate all the unique and special |
| to be active with your child. Walk to the video store. | | | | things that they are. Give messages of beauty often. |
| Walk with them to talk about what is up at school. | | | | Compliment best features, extra efforts, exercise |
| Put music on and dance. Have exercise options in the | | | | and food victories. Take them to movies like Shrek, |
| house, like rebounders, trampolines, swings for the | | | | Harry Potter and others where there are heroes who |
| younger ones, jungle gyms, etc. | | | | are not all stick thin. Show them art depicting ancient |
| Special Programs9. If your child is significantly heavy, | | | | cultures when thin was not so in. (Botticelli, Rubens, |
| consider summer camps designed to do all of the | | | | african tribes for example). Give them unconditional |
| above with lots of other kids struggling with the | | | | love and acceptance regardless of their success or |
| same. Not all camps are the same, so check them | | | | failure in any of these areas.16. Be spiritual.Nan |
| out. But an 8 year old who spend 4 weeks being | | | | Andrews Amish, the Business Healthcare Contrarian is |
| healthy and active during the summer, loses as little | | | | the founder of Big Picture Healthcare a strategy |
| as 10 pounds, grows 2 inches has a great way to | | | | consulting firm which provides expertise in consumer |
| start back to school in the fall. They are stronger, | | | | directed healthcare, healthcare marketing, and |
| leaner, more confident, tan and met tons of new | | | | strategies to decrease benefit costs by 20-30% |
| friends.10. If your child is significantly heavy, consider | | | | while improving talent management. Nan offers |
| working with a naturopath, homeopath or holistic | | | | Management Consulting, Facilitation, Workshops. |
| nutrition person. Why holistic? Often, children who | | | | Contact her at or (650)560-9800. |