Monday, January 24, 2011

Give Your Child The Gift Of Sleeping Hours

To prevent the undesirable onset of symptoms that could lead to serious metabolic diseases: heart disease, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and obesity, – have your children have their snoozes during the day and a full-fledged night sleep.

A new study published in Pediatrics proves the point of importance of sleep especially in childhood.

Having not enough sleep leads to unhealthy weight gains. That, in turn, ends up in one or several metabolic diseases impairing a child for the rest of his or her life.

The crucial point is that don't wait until your child grows up to enforce bed time. Do it right now, today, to eliminate one more precursor to obesity.

As a mom of a little kid, I do enforce nap times. And I do say "good-nights" at approximately the same hour during the evening. True, not every day is a day without objection on the part of my baby. But with calm and explanation, and enticing him into our favorite reading activity before bed time, my toddler goes to bed a pretty happy person.

It takes so many variables to make the daily life flow. At times, it is unbelievable what we need to pay attention to. Sleep is one of them. Who would think that not having enough sleep would lead to serious health challenges later in life? Only studies could really prove it and show us a better way to deal with situations like that.

Here's a reference to the study with more details on how lack of sleep effects little children, i.e., leading to obesity.

Lack of Sleep Linked to Childhood Obesity

Celebrate Good Sleep Today!

PS: If you know a woman-entrepreneur who has created healthy product(s), please let me know, so we could spread the word about her and her contribution to this planet.
 Disclosure: I only write about products I believe in and use personally and the companies who truly advance forward the best traits of the humankind. I am not compensated for my opinions.
Founder, CelebrateLifeNutrition.com
Curb Your Appetite – Stop Your Cravings
VP Programs Development, ScaleDown for Life
VP Education, GoZonkers Inc.
©2011 Laura Gontchar. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Preventing Childhood Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Kids

Preventing Childhood Obesity:
The Early Intervention Imperative

Nick C. Smith, VP Research, GoZonkers

Editors Note: With the continued rise in childhood obesity unabated, many parents ask the question, “Why not wait for my child to grow out of their baby fat and cute chubbiness before I have to worry about it?”

Parents also raise the question, “What is an effective solution if my child is overweight?”

This article seeks to begin answering these key questions, for parents, teachers, and clinicians.

Evidence becomes inexorably more compelling that the current epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity is directly caused by lack of physical activity and increased caloric intake. Children are progressively exposed to less and less regular physical activity, while being over-exposed to calorie dense, nutritionally poor foods.

The solution to this world-wide problem lies in the schools and the homes of children. Each provide powerful opportunities to make the lifestyle interventions proven effective in changing the activity and eating patterns of at-risk children.

• With insufficient physical activity, children afflicted with overweight and obesity are at elevated risk of early onset of weight-related diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart enlargement, current and later cardiovascular disease, early cancer, limited cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal development, reduced cognitive development, social ostracism, bullying (both perpetrator and victim), decreased academic progress, anxiety, and depression.

• The most effective interventions are well-known; regular and vigorous physical activity, and a change from high calorie, nutrient-poor foods to low calorie, nutrient-dense foods. In todayʼs obesogenic, a concerted effort will be required to ensure the adoption of positive lifestyle changes.

• Schools are positioned to be highly influential in the development of healthy children. Rather than detracting from academic progress, time spent in physical activity during the school day actually improves learning capacity, and well-nourished children are clearly more receptive to instruction. School facilities and personnel can provide both. Preventing Childhood Obesity: Th Early Intervention Imperative

• The fundamental responsibility for child health lies in the home, where parents and siblings have a powerful effect on the kind of lifestyle adopted. Parental role modeling of foods eaten, meal settings, and exercise patterns are the foundation of a childʼs adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

More to come. Stay Tuned.

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