First off, you should not feel bad or think you are alone. Today, one in three children in the United States is overweight and over 20% are obese. Yet, as parents, once we become informed, it is up to us to look after the health of our children.
One thing we have found out is that parents often do not address weight issues with their child(ren) usually for one of three reasons; 1) They don't believe their child is overweight or they think they'll grow out of it, or 2) They feel guilty for letting their child become overweight and thus avoid dealing with it, or 3) They are overweight themselves and realize that to make changes with their child, they themselves will have to make changes to be a proper role model.
The reality of this is that children who are overweight will likely be overweight adults who are at greater risk for heart disease, cancer and diabetes. None of us parents are perfect and are better in some areas versus others; however, if we haven't done our best to keep our kids as healthy as possible, we still can. And, yes it does mean being a role model and showing your children you believe in what you are telling them. The benefit here is that you will feel better, live longer and be sick less often.
None of this means you need to become a "health nut." What it does mean is that you begin to think about the choices you and your children make and pay attention to what foods you bring home or chose when eating out. You'll also find that healthy foods can taste great and as you feel better you'll enjoy making healthier choices. There are lots of healthy tips available at
www.dresearslean.com/index.html. Since having time to be healthy is also an issue, there are plenty of ways to be healthy and convenient.
