How Can Grandparents Help Control Their Grandchildrens" Weight?
"Between 1995 and 2005 the proportion of obese children aged 2 to 15 increased from 10.
9% to 18% in boys, and from 12 to 18.
1% in girls.
" The problem is society-wide with almost equal numbers in boys and girls.
A popular misconception is that obesity is an issue for poorer people, however a recent study has shown that childhood obesity is also endemic among the middle class.
It has been estimated that if current trends continue, one-fifth of boys and one-third of girls will be obese by 2020".
When you read headline statistics like these, published by the NHS, do you look at your grandchildren and wonder if they are included in the statistics and whether there is anything you can do to help them, without pointing the finger at their normal lifestyle, interfering and risk criticising and possibly alienating their parents.
Scary stuff, but yes there are ways you can help.
All children have fads and fancies at home and often eat more processed, or "junk" foods, for convenience, in a busy and time constrained lifestyle.
This is not necessarily the parents fault, but is often influenced by peer pressure, powerful advertising campaigns by food manufacturers, fast food chains and supermarkets, but also by the ever increasing time spent sitting in front of all those electronic games, gadgets and gizmos.
When the children are in your care, it may be easier to provide a more healthy diet, if you can ignore the "Mummy lets us have..
..
" pressures from them and give them the good home-made versions, using fresh ingredients.
Beyond this your main opportunity to keep them healthy, is to offer them a more active stay with you, as you will probably have more time to join them in walks and other active pastimes than their parents do.
Turning part of your garden into a small play-park is an ideal step, as once installed the equipment may be kept in use for many years.
Among the best purchases you can make are Climbing Frames, Swings and Slides, Trampolines, and Swimming Pools (links).
A search on the internet will soon reveal the best local business which will be able to help you with informed sales advice and assistance with making these choices on behalf of those precious grandchildren.
There are a number of excellent websites showing calorie burn comparisons for various sporting activities all giving slightly differing results, but in general terms it is agreed that Trampoline Jumping is up there with the best of them rating at least 35% higher burn rate than walking at a normal pace of around 2 miles per hour.
And don't let the children tell you that the new Wii Fit computer games will give them all the exercise they need as this rates much the same as walking.
An hour of trampoline bouncing will certainly burn off the calories consumed by eating a well known chocolate bar, but it should always be remembered that weight loss should always be a balance between exercise and a healthy diet.
9% to 18% in boys, and from 12 to 18.
1% in girls.
" The problem is society-wide with almost equal numbers in boys and girls.
A popular misconception is that obesity is an issue for poorer people, however a recent study has shown that childhood obesity is also endemic among the middle class.
It has been estimated that if current trends continue, one-fifth of boys and one-third of girls will be obese by 2020".
When you read headline statistics like these, published by the NHS, do you look at your grandchildren and wonder if they are included in the statistics and whether there is anything you can do to help them, without pointing the finger at their normal lifestyle, interfering and risk criticising and possibly alienating their parents.
Scary stuff, but yes there are ways you can help.
All children have fads and fancies at home and often eat more processed, or "junk" foods, for convenience, in a busy and time constrained lifestyle.
This is not necessarily the parents fault, but is often influenced by peer pressure, powerful advertising campaigns by food manufacturers, fast food chains and supermarkets, but also by the ever increasing time spent sitting in front of all those electronic games, gadgets and gizmos.
When the children are in your care, it may be easier to provide a more healthy diet, if you can ignore the "Mummy lets us have..
..
" pressures from them and give them the good home-made versions, using fresh ingredients.
Beyond this your main opportunity to keep them healthy, is to offer them a more active stay with you, as you will probably have more time to join them in walks and other active pastimes than their parents do.
Turning part of your garden into a small play-park is an ideal step, as once installed the equipment may be kept in use for many years.
Among the best purchases you can make are Climbing Frames, Swings and Slides, Trampolines, and Swimming Pools (links).
A search on the internet will soon reveal the best local business which will be able to help you with informed sales advice and assistance with making these choices on behalf of those precious grandchildren.
There are a number of excellent websites showing calorie burn comparisons for various sporting activities all giving slightly differing results, but in general terms it is agreed that Trampoline Jumping is up there with the best of them rating at least 35% higher burn rate than walking at a normal pace of around 2 miles per hour.
And don't let the children tell you that the new Wii Fit computer games will give them all the exercise they need as this rates much the same as walking.
An hour of trampoline bouncing will certainly burn off the calories consumed by eating a well known chocolate bar, but it should always be remembered that weight loss should always be a balance between exercise and a healthy diet.