By admin
I was fascinated by what I was reading* today about Childhood Obesity. It is preventable and worth thinking about as parents and teachers. According to the research:
- More than 9 million American children are overweight.
- Nearly half of youths aged 12-21 in the U.S. Are not vigorously active on a regular basis.
- Only 8 % of Elementary schools and less than 7 % of middle schools and high school have daily physical education requirements in the U.S.
Causes of Obesity:
- Genetics
- Behavioral genetics
- Inherited traits
- Diet
- Toxic environments
- Behavior
- Culture
- Gender, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors
So, what do we do? Dr. Allen Dearry, from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) says, “Because it is so hard to treat obesity, we’ve tried to focus on preventing obesity from developing children, and we’re trying to do that through a variety of research and educational strategies. If you can prevent kids from becoming overweight and boese at a young age, then you’re much more likely to start to reduce the incidence of obesity in adults.”
Prevention tips:
- Assess your dietary intake.
- Monitor your portion sizes.
- Modify food preparation: reduce use of fats and sugars.
- Wait a few minutes before giving additional servings.
- Become active as a family.
- Be a role-model. Your kids are watching!
If you’d like some help with preventing obesity, or know of anyone who might need some help, please pass on this newsletter, and have them give me a call at 847-962-5234.
By admin
Are you getting enough sleep? If you are like most Americans, you are not getting enough. You’ll feel better if you get enough sleep, but did you know you also get these benefits?*
You’ll be slimmer. Not getting enough sleep lowers the levels of Grehlin, a hormone involved in appetite control, say UCLA researchers. Grehlin levels may rebound, and then some, during the day – making you even more hungry.
Additionally, Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is replenished during sleep. Serotonin helps control impulses. Impulsive eating is more likely if the Serotonin levels in the brain are not replenished. According to a new Carnegie Mellon University study, sleeping less than 7 hours a night makes peole almost 3 times more likely to catch a cold than those who get 8 hours.
You’ll be smarter. Researchers from the University of WI-Madison School of Medicine say that proteins build up in your brain when you have less than desired sleep levels. This protein gives you a foggy feeling in the morning.
You’ll be heart-healthier. If you spend fewer hours in bed than you ought, you could be at risk for high blood pressure, according to a new study from Penn State College of Medicine.
Children and Sleep
Are your kids getting enough sleep? Kid’s Health** and Dr. Greene*** recommend the following:
Birth to 6 months: 16-20 hours of sleep per day
6-12 months: 11 hours at night, and 3 hours naps per day
1-3 years old: 10-13 hours, including naps
4-6 years old: 10-13 hours
6-9 years old: 9-11 hours
10-12 years old: 9-10 hours
Teens: 8-10 hours
Adults: 8-9 hours
Did you know that kids who a particularly accident-prone might not be getting enough sleep? Tired kids have twice as many accidents as their well-rested peers, according to the University of Rochester School of Nursing.
Dr. Dennis Molfese, Ph.D. Researched the sleep schedules and response rates of kids ages 4-8 years old. He says, “With enough sleep, a child typically uses three or four areas of the brain to complete a task.” But, sleep loss makes the brain less coordinated and efficient. Skipping only one hour of sleep for just a week can have a significant effect on kids’ ability to concentrate.
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