Obese Kids: Is it Criminal?

Sounds like a segment for the nightly news.

But actually it’s more like a reality show. Several states across the nation have set a precedent by ruling that morbidly obese children are victims of criminal neglect. In a recent case in South Carolina, a mother lost custody of her 14-year-old son, whose weight had reached a high of 555 pounds! She was accused of placing him at risk because of the threat his weight posed to his health.

There’s been article after article about the alarming rate at which child obesity is rising in this country. The government wants to throw money at the problem. But unfortunately, there isn’t much available. Many of the more promising federal programs don’t reach their potential or have been dropped because of lack of funds. Meanwhile cities are using money to fund local programs like building sidewalks and bike paths to encourage more kids to walk or bike to school. Or community garden projects to introduce inner-city kids to healthy foods. True, programs like these are having some moderate success, but childhood obesity continues to be a concern.

So… should parents actually be considered “criminally negligent” because their child inherited grandma’s “big” genes… and feeds them? Or because no one wants their child on their sports team, so he comforts his hurt and loneliness with a bag ─ or two or three ─ of potato chips? And can parents be held responsible for the eating habits of their children outside the home? In the coming years, this issue will come under close scrutiny by the media and the courts. More programs to reverse the rapid rise of obesity will be instituted, but many of them will fail. In the end, it’s not really the government’s responsibility to oversee the eating habits of children. Yes, good eating habits should start at home. Not just by presenting well-balance meals, but also by helping your children to understand the part those well-balanced meals ─ and regular exercise ─ play in helping them to stay healthy. But with all the questions being asked, the question that comes to my mind is, “You can lead a horse to water, but are you responsible if he doesn’t drink?”

Inspirational Quote: February 6

We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.  ~ Alfred E. Newman

Food (pardon the pun) for thought, huh?

Strengthen Your Willpower “Muscle”

“Bad habits are hard to break—and they’re impossible to break if we try to break them all at once.”

That’s the conclusion scientists have derived from years of study about willpower. If you’re like me, you’re probably saying to yourself, “They should’ve just asked me. I could’ve told them that and saved them years of work and thousands of dollars!”

An article about New Year’s resolutions in the Wall Street Journal, details some of the procedures used in various studies to test willpower. Though the procedures seem complicated, the knowledge scientists gained helped them formulate some simple theories; including the fact that the part of the brain that regulates willpower is also busy keeping us focused, handling short-term memory and solving abstract problems. Is that asking too much from a small area of brain power?

Well, yes and no. You can read the entire article, but I want to focus on one aspect of the findings: scientists found that willpower requires energy and that energy comes from your diet.  It makes sense… I’ve written before about the connection between what you eat and your ability to stay focused. If the part of the brain that regulates your ability to stay focused is the same as the area that regulates willpower, it stands to reason that your diet can have a big impact on your willpower.

That means skipping meals makes it harder to stay on task when you’re trying to lose weight. Seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? Eat more to lose more. But that’s not exactly what it means. It means that not eating – or eating the wrong kinds of food – can alter your ability to remain focused and summon the willpower to stay on your diet. The Chris Powell Reshape the Nation program is based on eating 5 meals a day. It can sometimes seem like too much food, but in fact, this intake of healthy, well-balanced and well-proportioned meals ups your metabolism and burns fat. And now scientists have shown that it also strengthens your willpower. Sounds like a win-win outcome to me!

A Kid-Friendly Diet?

Okay… let’s see… For breakfast a sugar-laden toaster pastry… yum!  For lunch, school cafeteria pizza, chips and a soda… oh yeah.  Some cookies and a sugary fruit drink after school to tide them over until dinner.  And for dinner, take-out fried chicken, French fries, a biscuit and butter and … wait for it… yes, another soda.

Are you really shocked? Come on… ask your kids what they would say if someone asked them to describe a kid-friendly diet.

In a recent issue of USA Today, a nutritionist suggested parents, “…sneak in modifications, and children won’t even realize they’re practicing more healthful eating habits.”  Here are some of her simple suggestions to get kids to eat better:

1. To get them to drink more water, buy fun water bottles.
2. Buy low-fat versions of the cheeses they eat, and use lower-fat ground turkey instead of ground beef in meals. They’ll never know the difference.
3. Leave vegetables out to snack on instead of having cookies and chips on hand.

In theory, these are good suggestions.  But really, if you offered your kids a big bowl of vegetables as a snack, would they help themselves to a healthy handful or would they whine and complain about not having any chips or cookies in the house? And why try to deceive your kids? How are they going to learn that low fat foods can be tasty as well as nutritious if they don’t know what they’re eating?

Yes, it would be great if you could stock your pantry with healthy foods and snacks and that’s all your kids ate. But just because they snack on carrots at home doesn’t mean they’re going to pass up cookies at someone else’s house. Take time to teach your children the basics of a healthy, balanced diet so they can make wise eating choices. Not that they should say “no” to a cookie, but that one or two cookies is enough. And be the best role model you can for your children. It’s true; your children are definitely influenced by your eating habits. You know that eating a balanced diet and making time for regular exercise is the best thing you can do for your health. Help your children understand, too.

State of the Nation — Thursday January 28

Last Thursday I had the chance to asswer more questions from you viewers! In this State of the Nation I talk about weight loss with thyroid issues. 

Just A Spoon Full of Sugar…

Can sugar suppress your immune system? That was a question studied by researchers at Loma Linda University back in the 1970’s. Half the volunteers in the study were given 100 grams of sugar (approximately the amount in a liter of regular soda), and the other half fasted or had a snack without sugar. Then researchers drew blood from all the volunteers and mixed in some bacteria. The results: white blood cells from the blood samples of those volunteers who ingested the large dose of sugar destroyed less bacteria than the other subjects in the test group.

Though many doctors have heard this claim, most believe there’s just not enough research available to prove that any one food substance can make a person more vulnerable to infections. Today, with the widespread fear of the swine flu virus, many people are looking for ways to protect themselves and their families. This old study has resurfaced and people are suddenly asking, “Can large doses of sugar really weaken my immune system?”

Although doctors and nutritionists can’t agree on the answer to that question, they do agree on one thing: Eating a balanced diet of protein, carbs, fruits and vegetables is the key to good health… and the foundation of the Chris Powell Reshape the Nation program.

State of the Nation — Saturday January 23

This weekend I answered more questions from the viewers! I talk about reward day foods like ice cream, and how to choose the best rewards!

Is Second-Hand Eating as Dangerous as Second-Hand Smoke? You Be the Judge.

I recently read an article that started out: “Obesity now poses as great a threat to Americans’ quality of life as smoking, a new study shows.”  The article went on to say that in the past 15 years, the number of smokers has decreased while the proportion of obese Americans has increased. “Obesity,” the researchers noted, “had a larger effect on disease, while smoking had a great impact on deaths.”  And both have a serious impact on health care costs. But the results of the study showed that “quality-adjusted life years lost to obesity are equal to, or greater than, those lost because of smoking.”

You can find the whole article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Check it out. But what I found most interesting were the comments I read online in reference to the article. There was a lot of chatter about smoking and over-eating, but I question the comment that read,  “Nobody’s ever died of second-hand eating, have they?”

It made me think. I’m not sure I totally agree with that statement. Look around you… overweight parents often seem to have overweight children. In fact, studies show that 64% of children with overweight parents became overweight, as compared to 16% of children with normal-weight parents. Obviously, there are many factors involved here, including genetics. But several studies on this topic show that the link between obese parents with obese children is more often a result of behavior rather than genetics. Does that actually describe “second-hand eating?” The studies did prove that children eat based on what they are offered and the influences or examples – good or bad – set by their parents. I’ve written about the importance of being a good role model for your child when it comes to both diet and physical activity. Isn’t it time you put aside what you learned about eating from your parents and try to be the best role model you can be for the next generation?

Make It and Take It!

Reports abound proving that obesity is on the rise in the US. Does that surprise you? I would hardly think so. After all, you’d have to be living in a cave – instead of going to malls, restaurants, airports, etc. – not to notice that many people seem to be eating more calories than their body needs or consumes.

To be fair, obesity is not always the outcome of overeating. Obesity can also be caused by different physiological factors, such as genetic and hormonal imbalances that control metabolism. But it’s no surprise that lifestyle and dietary habits are the biggest contributing factor to the documented rise in obesity. Living in the fast lane often means eating fast food. The meals are cheap and quick, and they are tasty, but that’s often due to the saturated fats, refined carbs, sodium and sugar they contain. In fact, sometimes they contain almost enough fat and calories to fill your quota for the whole day! I guess if you walked to your local fast food restaurant, it might offset some of the damage, but that’s not usually the case, huh?

That’s why we recommend the Stax System for Chris Powell’s Reshape the Nation program. With just a few hours of food prep a week, you’ll have everything you need on hand to make quick and tasty meals without the extra fat and calories. You get containers for a full day of meals, including snacks. It’s easy… fill the containers to the appropriate level for your weight and you’ve got the correct proportions of carbs, veggies, proteins and fats on hand to enjoy a healthy, balanced diet throughout your busy day.

Inspirational Quote: January 21

“People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.”
— Author Unknown

Makes good sense, doesn’t it? If we eat sensibly most of the time, we can enjoy our “cheat days” with no guilt and little gain!

Feeling Sleepy?

Don’t you feel better after a good night’s sleep? I know I do. Lack of sleep affects our ability to concentrate and process information. You know the feeling… when you can’t focus in on that report you need to get done for work, or when you have to read the same paragraph in your newspaper or a book over and over before the words sink in. And that’s just one effect of lack of sleep.

There are others. Lack of sleep can also affect the appearance of your skin, alter your immune function, raise your stress hormone levels, and, now, studies show lack of sleep may actually affect your eating habits. Research from a recent study of the work, sleep and eating habits of a group of truck drivers show the drivers who reported getting enough sleep each night also said that they ate an average of three servings of fruits and vegetables, drank less than one sugary drink and ate less than a half serving of a sugary snack each day. The opposite was true of the drivers who felt they didn’t get enough sleep. The sluggish feeling that comes with lack of sleep left them craving quick energy snacks rather than making healthy food choices.

So if you sleep better and have plenty of energy, are you less likely to consume empty calories? And could the opposite be true: If you eat a healthy diet will you sleep better? A healthy diet and exercise are the foundation of the Chris Powell Reshape the Nation program. Our combination of five balanced meals a day and regular exercise can help you lose weight and regulate your energy levels. Will it help you sleep better… certainly worth a try, isn’t it?

Inspirational Quote: January 19

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”
— Muhammad Ali

Change your mindset about eating to change your eating habits!!

State of the Nation — Tuesday January 19

Today I answers more questions from the viewers! I talks about using artificial sweeteners as “transition tools” to the natural sweeteners.

Lonely heart… Large thighs?

Okay… you’ve used up all the leftover turkey stashed in the freezer after Thanksgiving, there’s nothing left of the Christmas ham, and you just ate the last gingerbread cookie. The holiday season is over. Now what?

Well, some of you are making a new year’s resolution to lose those extra pounds you put on. But for others, the letdown after the holiday season may have left you feeling lonely and vulnerable, and you’ll turn to comfort foods for solace. Studies show that loneliness contributes to overeating in several ways. Emotional eating can become a vicious – and unhealthy – cycle. You eat because you’re lonely, you gain weight and don’t feel good about yourself and won’t go out with people, so you eat some more because you have nothing to do and you’re even lonelier. While findings presented at an American Association for the Advancement of Science conference described how physically “social isolation contributes to decreased blood flow throughout the cardiovascular system and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which affects the immune system and may influence appetite and metabolism…”

It is possible to get off this unhealthy treadmill. You’ve heard this advice before, but it’s worth repeating. First of all, analyze the emotional triggers that lead to your overeating. If you’re feeling lonely or depressed after the excitement of the holidays, substitute an activity for overeating. Join a new group, try a new hobby, or just go for a walk. The key word here is “overeating”. The Chris Powell Reshape the Nation program recommends 5 meals a day with the right combination of healthy foods to keep you satisfied and ward off cravings. There is help… learn to manage your emotions without using food as a crutch and you’ll see the pounds melt away.

Building Strong Muscles

Past research studies prove that physical activity and balanced protein intake are important for preserving and building muscle strength. The Chris Powell Reshape the Nation muscle-building program uses weight training and the right combination of proteins, carbs and fats to help you get maximum results. Now researchers are working to discover if increased amounts of Vitamin C and E have any effect on muscle strength or damage and recovery of injured muscles.

The results to date? Yes and no.  Muscle strength naturally begins to diminish in our 40’s, and it really starts to deteriorate after 60. Researchers studied a group of men and women in their 70’s, testing muscle strength before, during and at the end of a 2-year period. At the end of the study, researchers determined there was a strong positive link between Vitamin C and E intake and greater muscle strength. Diet was the key. Those seniors who exercised and ate a well balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables – good natural sources of Vitamin C and E – all increased their strength levels.

However, another study was conducted to determine if taking Vitamin C and E supplements could alleviate exercise-induced muscle damage. Researchers started 22 young runners on a 6-week course of Vitamin C and E supplements before they were scheduled to run a 50-km marathon. Then the runners were monitored during the marathon. In this study, these antioxidants appeared to have little or no effect on muscle damage or recovery.

So… let the research continue. But it seems the sensible way to maintain or build muscle strength remains the same: exercise daily and eat a healthy, well balanced diet.