What Can One Million Visitors to Nujoblog Do for America's Children?

In 2001, Surgeon General Richard Carmona, in his call to action, warned America that childhood obesity was a serious public health problem. Do something now or pay the penalty later, he said. Well, later is now and we are paying dearly. More and more children are becoming overweight and facing a future of costly and debilitating diseases.

Here is what scientists and public health experts are telling us:

• One-third of America's children are overweight or obese. In some cities that number could be as high as fifty percent.
• One in three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes at some point during their lifetime.
• Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other serious health conditions, including cancer and premature death.
• More and more children are being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of abnormal health conditions that set the stage for cardiovascular disease.
• Overweight or obese children are often sad, depressed, socially isolated and bullied. They are also less likely to perform at their highest potential in school. Many do not want to go to school because of the social problems they encounter.

70,000 registered dietitians are unrecognized and underutilized; these nutrition experts, along with trained public health nutritionists must be mobilized to fight this battle that the nation is losing day after day.

You can do your part by making smart food choices for yourself and your children. If you have a child who is overweight or obese, insist that your insurance company, medicaid or other health insurance provider authorize coverage for professional nutrition services by a registered dietitian. You can find a registered dietitian in your area by visiting www.eatright.org, the American Dietetic Association website or searching online.

Send this blog post to as many people as you like and ask them to share it; and visit nujoblog.blogspot.com for daily nutrition updates. Each visit will bring us closer to providing children and families with the nutrition education, counseling and related services they need to stop this potentially deadly epidemic that is euphemistically called childhood obesity. In fact, it is more than just about fatness. It is about potentially fatal diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, amputations and more. These are the real risks that our children face.

"Let's move" towards better food, more physical activity and a nation of healthy children. Surely that is not asking too much of the greatest nation on earth, is it?

Let's organize for the health of our children - sharing and visiting nujoblog for daily updates. And send me your questions and feedback at drdorene@dailydietguide.com. If you are a childcare center or school, you might also be interested in services offered by CHANA Project, the Child Health and Nutrition Access Project.

"An investment in America's children is an investment in America."

4 Reasons Why You Should Lose Weight Now

Overview

Obesity is a problem of mammoth proportion in the US and fast becoming the trend across the globe. Unfortunately, it can lead to a number of serious health problems. In some cases, these problems could be life threatening. What might seem like just a little extra weight around the waistline could actually signal a firestorm of health problems raging on the inside. As the rate of obesity continues to climb, you can expect the health problems to escalate, as well. But it doesn’t have to happen that way. Losing weight can reverse a great deal of the health problems associated with being overweight or obese. 

Here are 4 good reasons why you should lose weight now: 
1. Cardiovascular disease. Obesity can lead to cardiovascular disease. Studies show that people who are obese are more likely than others to have plaque buildup in their arteries. The buildup of this waxy substance can result in narrowing of your arteries, causing your heart to work harder, and ultimately cause a heart attack or stroke. Losing weight can prevent or slow the progression of cardiovascular disease.

2. Diabetes. Obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes. The massive amount of fat in your body interferes with your body’s ability to use insulin effectively. As a result, sugar builds up in your blood instead of being moved into the cells. Too much sugar in the blood can cause inflammation in the blood vessels and lead to damage to a number of important organs, including the eyes and kidneys. Losing weight can improve blood glucose levels and slow or reverse damage caused by high blood sugar.

3. High blood pressure. Obesity can lead to high blood pressure. If you are obese, it means that you are carrying around a greater load than your body can comfortably manage. It means more blood must be pumped to the vital organs. Getting this job done means that the heart and blood vessels must work harder. This extra work leads to increased tension in the walls of the blood vessels, which often results in hypertension or high blood pressure. Losing weight can reduce the strain on the blood vessels and reduce may reduce your blood pressure.

4. Sadness and depression. Obesity can lead to sadness and depression. If you are overweight or obese, you probably know from experience that it could be really hard to do the fun things you want to do. Instead of living a full, active life, you may turn to food for comfort, perpetuating a cycle of sadness and depression. Losing weight can help to ease the sadness and depression associated with obesity, and allow you to get your life back! 

Clearly, obesity is not just about how you look or what size clothes you wear. It could be disastrous to your health in so many ways. It can literally rob you of the joy of living. But it doesn't have to be that way. You can lose weight, improve your health and get back in the game of living. If you need help, talk to a registered dietitian. You can find one in your area by going to the American Dietetic Association website at www.eatright.org and clicking on the link to “Find a dietitian.”