| The statistics are staggering. According
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| | report in the International Journal of
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| to the Centers for Disease Control and
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| | Pediatric Obesity, approximately half of
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| Prevention: The number of overweight
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| | American children are expected to be
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| children ages 6 to 11 has more than
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| | overweight by 2010. In addition to lack
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| doubled over the last 20 years -- from 7%
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| | of sufficient physical activity,
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| in 1980 to 18.8% in 2004.
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| | consumption of fast food and junk food
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| The number of overweight teenagers (ages
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| | plays a significant role in promoting
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| 12 to 19) has more than tripled,
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| | overweight and obesity in American
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| increasing from 5% to 17.1%.
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| | children. In light of these facts,
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| About 61% of overweight youngsters have
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| | parents need to regain control of their
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| at least one additional risk factor for
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| | kids' eating habits and avoid the
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| heart disease, including high cholesterol
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| | drive-through window as often as
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| or high blood pressure.
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| | possible." Meals on Wheels There are
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| Overweight children are at greater risk
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| | simple solutions to "dashboard dining,"
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| for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea,
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| | Dr. McAllister says.
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| and social and psychological problems
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| | "When you're driving kids to and from
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| (stigmatization and poor self-esteem).
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| | soccer games and dance lessons, make sure
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| Overweight children are more likely to
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| | that you're armed with snacks and
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| become overweight or obese adults,
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| | drinks," she says. "Keep a cooler in the
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| placing them at risk for heart disease,
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| | car, and fill it with bottled water,
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| type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer and
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| | dried fruit, yogurt and spoons, cut-up
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| osteoarthritis.
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| | fruits and veggies, and other nutritious
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| With all of this bad news, I'm happy to
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| | snacks so that you aren't tempted to
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| report that eating natural and organic
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| | visit the drive-through window at your
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| food can help prevent your child from
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| | favorite fast-food restaurant."
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| becoming one of America's health
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| | Nutritionist Gayl Canfield, PhD, of the
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| statistics. The prescription for change
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| | Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in
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| is relatively simple: Replace heavily
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| | Aventura, Florida, is also a firm
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| processed supermarket brands with fresh
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| | believer in "rabbit bags," which can be
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| produce and organic food, and adopt
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| | filled with organic vegetables and
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| organic living strategies that encourage
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| | snacks. Simply place raw carrots,
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| your children to get moving.
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| | cauliflower, orange wedges and apple
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| Eat at Home Eating out is one of the
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| | slices in a snack-size plastic bag.
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| major contributors to childhood obesity,
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| | "The orange gives everything a nice
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| and you'll serve your family well if you
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| | flavor and aroma, and it helps keep the
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| make a resolution to prepare home-cooked
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| | apple slices from turning too brown," she
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| meals with organic ingredients.
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| | tells Organic Authority. "No time to
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| "It's not uncommon for parents to feel
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| | slice up veggies? Available in many
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| that they're just too busy to prepare
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| | markets now are little single-serving
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| home-cooked meals, especially after a
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| | bags of sweet baby carrots -- peeled,
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| long, exhausting day at work. As a
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| | washed and ready to toss in your child's
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| result, they often succumb to 'takeout
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| | lunchbox. How easy! If your kids like
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| syndrome,' " says Rallie McAllister, MD,
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| | dips for their veggies, pack a little
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| MPH, a preventive health specialist and
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| | container of bean dip, hummus or salsa."
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| author of Healthy Lunchbox: A Working
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| | Get Moving! Finally, be sure to make
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| Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids
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| | exercise a family affair.
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| Trim. She recently commissioned a
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| | "The best way for parents to motivate
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| national survey of 1,000 moms, which
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| | kids to get moving is for parents to get
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| revealed that children are 25% less
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| | moving themselves," Dr. Canfield says.
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| likely to be overweight if a parent
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| | "What good are homilies about the
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| participates in meal preparation.
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| | benefits of exercise if we sit on the
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| "There's no doubt that fast food is
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| | bleachers while our kids run around the
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| convenient, but at this point we can't
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| | soccer field? While they're at practice,
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| afford to sacrifice our children's health
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| | take off for a nice 45-minute walk around
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| and well-being for the sake of
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| | the park. And as much as your middle-aged
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| convenience," Dr. McAllister tells
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| | body will allow, make their exercise your
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| Organic Authority. "Currently, roughly a
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| | exercise, from skiing to bike riding to,
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| third of American children are overweight
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| | yes, even skateboarding!"
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| or obese, and according to a recent
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