Kids Mirror Adults in Obesity Dilemma

There’s an underlying problematic issue happening under the blanket of Obesity. Just as you thought that you were starting to get a handle on your own life, learning how to lose weight naturally, developing cleaner eating habits, and finding ways to combat the old habits you were used to; something else occurs to you. You are a parent of one or more children, and they mimic everything you do. If it wasn’t hard enough to manage your own life and health, these little guys don’t have that capability, they only ultimately do what we show them they can. 

It’s no secret that childhood obesity is on the rise. According to Dr Richard Besser, MD of ABC’s 20/20 special on the Childhood Obesity Dilemma, children have the same, if not worse hurdles that adults have in the ability of losing weight. Their struggles are different, but they mirror those that adults have. One instance is food availability; where the most convenient meal choice is usually in the home and doesn’t require much preparation. Children will most likely opt out of preparing themselves a healthy meal that takes time and capability. Kids, as a whole, like friendly-comfort foods that are easy to prepare, pizza, chicken nuggets, and macaroni and cheese come to mind. Another situation that children face which adults have to deal with as well is getting outside for some exercise. Some kids aren’t in areas where they can just “go play” with their friends in the neighborhood, either they live in an area that their parents would deem unsafe for play, or frankly, kids would just rather play inside, the kind of playing that doesn’t require exercise. Kids fight to stand their ground to be able to play video games, watch television, or surf the web. Sound like someone you know? Maybe you? Maybe your spouse? My point is that we struggle with the same choices and decisions that our kids do. The ultimate difference though, is that for the most part, we know better.
As adults, I think it can be stated that we know we should be getting some sort of exercise in any form, walking, cleaning, Chris Powell’s metaboosts, etc… We know we should be moving about in our lives more.  As for our diets, well, we suffer with the same obstacles; if it’s in the house, we will eat it. If it’s more convenient, and even if the meal is exponentially less healthy, we tend to get a little lazy and opt for that.

Given that that main difference between ourselves and our kids is that we know better, it can be more of an inspiration to make better choices ultimately. This whole process of Reshaping our lives will probably be the most trying and always difficult thing to do. The bonus of gaining control and getting your life back, though, is that you will pay it forward by default. Kids, whether we believe them to be or not, are little sponges that just want to emulate you. You develop healthier choices, make easy and tasty meals, go out and “play”, your kids will too. Being a part of ReshapetheNation ultimately gives you what you need to be that example for them.

Let children, whether you have them or not, like them or not, be your inspiration to make small changes in your life. Kids of any age, maybe you are one, always take something from adults’ behavior.  As adults, let’s be an example of “how-to”, especially in a world of pressing convenience. Show them how-to live healthier lives with baby-steps, one thing at a time. We can show them, and they’ll probably follow suit; if they don’t, at least they’ll be armed with the tools to live a healthy life just like David Smith received. And just think, if eating and living healthy becomes the old habit, it’ll be that much harder to break.

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