I came across an excellent article published in the UK involving families. The government is mandating that PE be implemented 2 hrs each week in the schools. The problem is that the children are not getting any slimmer.

A more recent study decided to focus on the families of these children. Parents were educated on changing their entire behavior by eating more healthy foods and the importance of exercise on a daily level.

The results were quite astonishing.

A review of 64 studies involving 5,230 people found that “children lost up to seven pounds through changing their home diet and activities over 12 months.”

I do agree that PE needs to be stressed in the school system as well as at home, but I do see that the growing obesity problem cannot be solely based on the school system. I believe the family unit has the largest impact of the values that children embrace. When parents and/or caregivers engage in healthy behaviors such as buying groceries, cooking healthy meals, and exercising on a daily basis, children will inadvertently grow up to value these behaviors.

Try this: Sit down as a family and discuss some healthy meal options that you would all enjoy. Do the same for physical activities. What do your children suggest? Would they play tag with you? Can you go for a walk or bike ride after dinner each day? What about creating an obstacle course in the yard?

Make this the year to implement CHANGE. This will take time. You will be forming some new family habits. There may be some resistance from your kids at first, since this is something new. However, keep moving forward and you will all benefit.

Now that my children are 5 and 7, I often ask them to choose what they want for dinner. This way I know that they will eat and there are no surprises! They also know that I love to get my exercise so I often chase them around our yard for a game of ‘tag ball.’ Or, we play hide n’ seek in the dark in our basement. It’s great because we are all having a blast and getting exercise at the same time!

They also see me working out in our basement. Often, they will pick up a couple of 5 lb dumbbells and imitate me. It’s really cute. I love that I am inadvertently teaching them the value of exercise.

What can you do today to make a change in your own home?

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA – C.P.T., B.Ed.