photo credit: nerdcoregirl

 Did you know that excessive weight among children is characterized as the most serious and prevalent nutritional disorder in the United States?  How do we begin to equate that with pictures of starving children around the world?  

According to the UCLA Health Systems newsletter, there is an estimated 11 million overweight children ad adolescents nationwide, and some 13 million more who are at risk for becoming overweight.  

The results of excessive weight? More children are diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, along with high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.  As adults they will be more likely to have heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea and stroke.

 UCLA advises parents to:

1. Provide healthy food: serve meals high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and include children in making food choices.
2. Get your child moving: turn off the TV. Children should have at least 60 minutes of sustained physical activity most days.
3. Practice what you preach: when parents make an effort themselves to stay active and eat healthy foods, children get the message.
4. For more Health Tips for parents on a variety of topics, go to WWW.uclahealth.org/publications

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