Posts Tagged ‘children’

A DNA Link between Diabetes and Obesity

October 3rd, 2009 admin

diabetes1There are certainly risk factors that make the likelihood of you being diagnosed with the disease higher.  One of the only risk factors that you have control over is your weight.  If you are obese, the single best thing you can do for your health and the prevention of diabetes is to lose weight.  Even in small increments, when you shed pounds you are increasing your health benefits.

There are new studies that are now showing that there is a genetic factor or mutation for people who are obese and have diabetes.  This genetic malfunction affects how the bodies use energy and insulin – two key elements in the functioning of your body and the cause of diabetes and obesity.

If you carry this defective gene you are not guaranteed to be obese or have diabetes.  But the link is there and it can be prevented.  Discuss with your doctor options and ways to prevent or put-off the onset of diabetes.

The gene that researchers have discovered as a precursor to diabetes has been found in young children.  It is scary to know that children in their preschool years are being diagnosed with obesity and type 2 diabetes due to genetics.  But parents can reduce or prevent these things from happening by giving their children healthy lifestyle choices.  Now that a DNA link has been found, the research can focus on finding a way to fix or prevent this from happening at some point in the future

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7 Weight Loss Tips for Kids and Their Families

September 6th, 2009 admin

weight_loss1Here is a sure-fire list of diet dos and don’t to help your family triumph over obesity:

1. Try again.  Weight loss and healthy eating is not easy.  There will be times when you and your family will struggle with this new lifestyle.  It is important to keep trying.  Failure is certain if you are not trying.

2. Avoid portion distortion. When serving food you must use portion control, a buffet-type or family-style situation tends to promote overeating.

3. Start the day off right with a good breakfast. A bowl of low-sugar cereal with low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt with a granola or breakfast bar, or an English muffin with peanut butter, rather than a doughnut or muffin. A healthy breakfast will put your family on the healthy track for the rest of the day.

4. be a ‘healthy’ role model. If there are chips, cookies and Twinkies and no fruit or vegetables when your kids look for snacks, how can they succeed?  Line your refrigerator and cabinets with fresh fruits, nuts, low-fat cheese, and easy things for kids to snack on besides ‘junk food’.

5. Be positive. Say, Let’s go pick out fruits and make a fruit salad, don’t eat this or that. Use positive words and phrases when talking with your kid.

6. Make healthy eating a family affair.  Create family meals together and for the entire family. Do not single out an overweight family member with special diet food.  Your entire family can benefit form healthy eating regardless of weight.

7. Make time for physical activity. Make physical activity a family activity. Every night after dinner in the summer, go for a half-hour walk and make it an activity that kids look forward to.

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