Be The Change You Want to

See In Your Children

Do you know how to be the change for your children?  Why do I ask?  Well, because I don’t believe that children are to blame for being overweight, but I also don’t point the finger at any one person or group for this global epidemic we have called "Childhood Obesity." In fact, there are several underlying factors that influence whether or not a child will be overweight. Some of these influences are:

•    Genetics (small percentage)

•    Lifestyle (large percentage)

•    Parents’ habits

•    Hobbies/Interests (i.e.: video games vs. basketball)

•    Whether or not relatives and friends are overweight

•    Media and government perversions

Well, the last one is more pointing the finger at big government and lobbying special interest groups more than anything, but it does play a pivotal role in the weight issues of our youth.

My question to you and every parent out there is…

ARE YOU LOOKING AFTER YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH?

  After all, if you are not looking after your child’s welfare, who is? Certainly not the government. They are more worried about how they are going to afford to pay for little Johnny to go to the doctor for diabetes than they are putting physical education activities back on the map. Friends are a good source of encouragement…when your child is older. And even then it will only be a factor if your child’s friends are healthy and his/her best interests at heart.

  So, when it really comes down to it, who is looking after your baby’s welfare, if not you?  No one really. Sure, the doctor wants to help, but she also wants to move on to the next patient as well and earn her paycheck.  That’s why you need to ‘be the change’ you want to see in your children.  You really need to understand that the only way to steer your children towards a healthy existence is by being the role model that you want them to aspire to. Mahatma Gandhi said it best: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." In other words, be that which you want your children to be. Don’t practice "Do as I say, not as I do," but rather, "do as I do."  Therefore, be the change!