25 Years Ago, Kids Were Fitness Failures; It 's Only Gotten Worse

Overwhelming Evidence Heart Disease Starts in Childhood

In September 1985, I wrote: “In the middle of a wellness boom, our children’s fitness is a bust.” Twenty-five years ago, in an age of 10K runs, aerobic fitness centers, and Jane Fonda workout videos, our kids were physical wrecks. Since then, things have deteriorated to a point where some might think of the 1980s as “the good ol’ days.”

Today’s kids may be the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents, but parents can stop the obesity epidemic. http://bit.ly/17KfEK Here are some ideas and links to more information.

• Getting young kids to eat better is not as hard as you think. That’s because the biggest influence on their eating habits is mom and dad. As I explained some time ago, if you want your kids to eat better – especially younger kids – then buy better foods. http://bit.ly/7rDkdd Just today, I reminded a friend who wants to lose weight that the easiest way to avoid junk food is to not buy it!

• Consider the French Paradox. Research scientists have been puzzling for years over why the French eat more fat than Americans yet have a lower incidence of heart disease and a much thinner population. This explains a lot: there is a huge difference between what French and American children eat for lunch at their schools. Similarly, there is a big difference in what French and US parents teach kids about food. http://bit.ly/d4emHj

• Are kids fat because we’ve taken the fun out of fitness? Experts think there is too much focus on sports and not enough on just moving. http://bit.ly/8N59ne It doesn’t take a lot. For almost 2 years now my youngest son and I have walked about half an hour every day. It’s great fun for us and both of us have lost weight.

• Studies conducted over the last several decades provide overwhelming evidence that heart disease often starts in childhood. Fortunately, even without weight loss, kids who exercise show a big reduction in markers associated with a greater risk of heart disease. http://bit.ly/570QzE

• Do you eat when stressed? Guess what: Kids often have the same response. Sadly, many parents are blissfully unaware just how stressed out their kids are today. http://bit.ly/4EhLDH And, frankly, all work and no play makes kids more than dull; it’s why they're so anxious and depressed. http://bit.ly/6Tx829

• If kids have a weight problem, it’s a family problem. You won’t have a lot of authority if you tell your child he needs to lose weight when you’ve just opened a sack of potato chips. Think extended family, too: Youngsters are more apt to be fat with regular grandparent care. http://bit.ly/bDdCZT Clearly, grandma and grandpa need to up their babysitting game.

This isn’t rocket science, although you might think so given our complete failure at addressing these issues. It requires paying attention, avoiding mixed messages, and making better nutrition and more activity priorities.