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In my many years in pediatric nursing, I have seen many changes in the health of our youngest population and one of the biggest issues I see is weight. Children born today will be 18-year-olds in 2030, and the CDC projects that by 2030, 42% of people in the United States will be obese. One word: WOW!!! What are we doing to cause this horrible trend that will cost our nation over $500 billion in healthcare costs? We cannot afford nor should we stand back and let this happen.

For anyone that has ever dieted it seems so much easier to put on weight then to try and loose it. Pounds don’t want to be lost! And with the more sedentary lifestyles of families and children they won’t be lost. So what CAN we do? A young patient I had seen not long ago said to me, “I only eat when I am hungry. I am hungry all the time. Why I don’t know?”  To figure out why, we need to get to the bottom of behaviors and change food from being poisonous junk to a healthy life. It’s not easy to change behaviors, but here are a few simple steps:

• Cut out the junk food.
• Don’t “super size” your meals
• Get off the sofa and move
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Walk instead of taking the bus, or even walk 2 stops before getting on the bus
• Put pressure on your children’s schools to start gym and sports programs

15 minutes a day of physical activity can help, and one hour a day can jump start metabolism and improve health. Parents, this means you! Start now before it’s too late.