By Beverleigh H Piepers
In a more innocent time, Type 2 diabetes used to be known as "adult-onset diabetes" as it only affected older folks. Sadly, the skyrocketing rates of obesity in children have forced that old name to be as out of fashion as bell-bottoms.
There's no question that the battleground for Type 2 diabetes will be won or lost with children. Rates of diabetes and obesity in children are rising much faster than in adults. In fact, obesity rates in children has tripled in the last three decades alone. Unfortunately, scientists are way behind in figuring out how kids as young as 7 have early signs of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
On the bright side, researchers have uncovered a number of ways you can help prevent your child from developing this debilitating chronic condition.
Switch Off The TV: The TV may be a family bonding session, but it's also a surefire way to make your child overweight. Children that watch more than two hours of TV per day are much more likely to be overweight than kids that don't.
Surprisingly, it's not just the sedentary aspect of TV watching that's responsible for this. Children that spend large amounts of time in front of the TV tend to eat a poor diet.
Eat Together: Having dinner together isn't just a way for the family to form a closer bond, it may be one of the most effective methods for reducing the childhood obesity risk. Ohio State University researchers found that kids that eat with their family have a whopping 40 percent decreased obesity risk than kids that eat alone. Obese children are at a significantly heightened risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Cut Soda: Children that drink soda tend to be heavier than kids that don't. Unfortunately, the walls of many schools are lined with vending machines and soda advertisements that encourage kids to drink up.
What's the harm? While an occasional soda may not have any negative effect, downing drink after drink certainly does. A single 12-ounce can of Coke contains over nine teaspoons of sugar. The sugar and calories in soda don't make kids full like fibrous foods like fruit and whole grains, paving the way for overeating later in the day.
Become a Model: No, this doesn't mean that you have to get a killer physique and strut your stuff on the runway. Being a model for your child by demonstrating healthy behaviors like drinking water, exercising regularly and cooking at home will ensure that these healthy habits are cemented in his or her mind.
Play: Getting your child to exercise can be an uphill battle if all he or she wants to do is play video games or veg out in front of the TV screen. Try designing fun games like tag or basketball that you and your children can play together. That way, they get the exercise while having a blast.
In a more innocent time, Type 2 diabetes used to be known as "adult-onset diabetes" as it only affected older folks. Sadly, the skyrocketing rates of obesity in children have forced that old name to be as out of fashion as bell-bottoms.
There's no question that the battleground for Type 2 diabetes will be won or lost with children. Rates of diabetes and obesity in children are rising much faster than in adults. In fact, obesity rates in children has tripled in the last three decades alone. Unfortunately, scientists are way behind in figuring out how kids as young as 7 have early signs of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
On the bright side, researchers have uncovered a number of ways you can help prevent your child from developing this debilitating chronic condition.
Switch Off The TV: The TV may be a family bonding session, but it's also a surefire way to make your child overweight. Children that watch more than two hours of TV per day are much more likely to be overweight than kids that don't.
Surprisingly, it's not just the sedentary aspect of TV watching that's responsible for this. Children that spend large amounts of time in front of the TV tend to eat a poor diet.
Eat Together: Having dinner together isn't just a way for the family to form a closer bond, it may be one of the most effective methods for reducing the childhood obesity risk. Ohio State University researchers found that kids that eat with their family have a whopping 40 percent decreased obesity risk than kids that eat alone. Obese children are at a significantly heightened risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Cut Soda: Children that drink soda tend to be heavier than kids that don't. Unfortunately, the walls of many schools are lined with vending machines and soda advertisements that encourage kids to drink up.
What's the harm? While an occasional soda may not have any negative effect, downing drink after drink certainly does. A single 12-ounce can of Coke contains over nine teaspoons of sugar. The sugar and calories in soda don't make kids full like fibrous foods like fruit and whole grains, paving the way for overeating later in the day.
Become a Model: No, this doesn't mean that you have to get a killer physique and strut your stuff on the runway. Being a model for your child by demonstrating healthy behaviors like drinking water, exercising regularly and cooking at home will ensure that these healthy habits are cemented in his or her mind.
Play: Getting your child to exercise can be an uphill battle if all he or she wants to do is play video games or veg out in front of the TV screen. Try designing fun games like tag or basketball that you and your children can play together. That way, they get the exercise while having a blast.
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