Category: Well-Being

Child obesity is a rapidly growing problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), obesity affected 14.7 million children and adolescents between 2017-20.  The percentage of children and adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) in the obese range has more than tripled since 1980.

Furthermore, the number of children with severe obesity has increased sixfold. A 5th to 84th percentile BMI range is considered healthy for children. But many children are over this range.

It’s clear that many factors contribute to this increase, but we don’t yet know exactly what causes childhood obesity or how best to address it. This blog post will explore some of these causes and solutions so you can help prevent your child from becoming one of the millions who struggle with this condition every year.

Harmful Effects of Child Obesity in America

The problem of childhood obesity in America is growing at an alarming rate. Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. It also puts children at risk for poor self-esteem due to the social stigma surrounding their weight or appearance.

Prevention and Support

Early intervention is crucial to help solve childhood obesity in America.  Educate children about healthy eating and how it benefits their bodies.

For support, seek out social work programs designed help bring down obesity among children.   A reliable source to get information online is from University websites. University of Nevada, Reno, has a ton of information on obesity and how early intervention can help. It also lets any student holding a Bachelor’s degree in either social or non-social work get a Master’s degree in social work. This can motivate people to perform social activities to help reduce childhood obesity in America.

Harmful Effects of Child Obesity in America

Rapid Change in Eating Patterns

The rise in obesity can be attributed to several factors. First, we’re busier than ever. Between work and family commitments, it’s easy to find yourself eating on the go including resorting picking up fast food.

At home, people are eating more processed foods than ever because they’re cheap and convenient. Processed foods have high calories that can lead to obesity. According to a recent study published in the JAMA Network publication, 67 percent of a child’s calories come from ultra-processed foods in the US.

Lack of Exercise

While it’s easy to see the link between a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain, physically active children typically have better health outcomes than their more inactive peers.

Physical activity is essential for maintaining a healthy weight, building strong bones and muscles, improving mood and self-esteem, reducing stress levels, and keeping you awake during class.

Increasing Screen Time

Parents are well aware that an excess of TV and computer time can harm a child’s wellbeing and health. Limiting their exposure and encouraging them to be active instead is vital.

• Children who watch more than two hours of television per day are twice as likely to be overweight or obese than those watching less than one hour daily. A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that 42 percent of children are at risk due to this trend.

• Studies have shown that children who spend more time watching television are less likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and this has been linked with childhood obesity in multiple studies over the years.

Family Environment

Family environment is a significant factor in childhood obesity. A supportive family can help your child maintain a healthy weight and prevent unhealthy eating habits, while the opposite can negatively affect their health.

Family support is one of the most critical factors in helping children maintain healthy weights. In fact, research shows that young people with active parents are more likely to be physically active than those without active parents. This suggests that if you want your child to be active, then it’s vital for you as their parent or guardian to model this behavior.

In addition to being physically active together as a family, eating meals together regularly and encouraging healthy eating choices at home can also play an essential role in controlling kids’ weights throughout childhood into adulthood.

Genetics

Genetics is one of the main causes of child obesity. A child’s genetic predisposition, family history, and genetic testing can be factored into their weight gain.

Genetic testing can determine if specific mutations in your genes make it easier for you to gain weight or if there are other genetic conditions, such as Prader-Willi syndrome or Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

Teaching kids about how genetics influence their weight can remove a lot of the shame associated with their size.  Today, doctors stress that obesity is a disease more than it is a person’s own fault.

Genetic counseling is also important when considering having children because it helps parents understand how their genetics will affect their children’s health and development. Genetic counseling may include discussions about:

• Reproductive options such as prenatal screening tests
• Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
• Amniocentesis
• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

Solutions for Addressing Child Obesity in America

We’ve already mentioned how important early intervention is, but it’s never too late to make changes and seek help when necessary.  Here are a few solutions you can implement to face the problem of obesity in your family head on.

Lifestyle Changes

The following are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your child is eating a healthy diet:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Eat less processed foods.
• Eat less sugar, salty foods and saturated fats, and less trans fats. These foods may be tempting because they’re easy to eat on the go and taste good immediately after consumption.

Here’s how it works. When children consume too many calories from these “empty” sources through their diets, those excess calories get stored inside fat cells around their bellies, causing them to look bloated and feel bloated.

Education and Awareness

The more we can teach people about the causes of childhood obesity, the more they will be able to understand how it affects their children’s health. If you know someone struggling with their weight or has a child who struggles with theirs, share this article with them.

Introduce kids to healthy and delicious food habits from other cultures.  There are plenty of examples of how people from other countries remain healthy and lean while enjoying plant based proteins and better choices of non-processed meats.  In many cultures, taste is equally important as nutrition.  No one wants to eat bland food.

Community-Based Interventions

Community-based interventions can be effective in addressing childhood obesity in America. Community-based interventions can target specific populations, such as children or adults of certain races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and educational backgrounds.

They are also implemented in schools, healthcare settings, and community centers that serve various clients from different backgrounds. Community-based interventions are often used to address other health issues besides obesity, such as smoking cessation programs.

The CDC recommends communities create local school wellness policies and encourage educational institutions to follow them. It also ensures that the food available for students at school is healthy and meets all dietary requirements.

Conclusion

The rise in child obesity in America is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. The consequences of this epidemic are staggering, affecting not only the individual children who are impacted but also our nation as a whole. We hope that by providing information about what causes obesity in children and how we can address it, we will help raise awareness about this problem.

Social workers are essential members of society who work to promote the well-being and social welfare of individuals and communities. They provide a variety of services to support vulnerable populations, including counseling, advocacy, and education. Social workers tackle a range of social issues, such as poverty, homelessness, and inequality.

By working to build a strong and resilient society, these unsung heros understand the unique needs of all people and are able to provide tailored interventions and support. Social workers are also powerful advocates for social justice and policy change, working to influence government policies and promote equality for all seeking available resources.

According to data collected by the National Association of Social Workers, 81% of Americans who had interacted with a social worker agreed that they improved their situation or that of a loved one.  But how?

In this article, we will explore the vital role of social workers, highlighting ways in which they are making a positive impact on individuals and society as a whole.

Addressing Social Issues

Social workers play a critical role in addressing a wide range of social issues, such as family violence, mental illness, and substance abuse. They are trained to support families in crisis with an emphasis on protecting kids.  This is achieved by providing necessary resources or by intervening directly, with the help of law enforcement, if necessary.

Social workers use a variety of approaches, including counseling, case management, and advocacy, to address social issues and promote social justice. They also work closely with educational institutes to raise awareness. Ohio University, for example, organizes an annual domestic violence awareness program designed to sensitize both students and community members about this issue.

Social workers also work with other organizations and community members to provide comprehensive services to those who need them the most. In short, social workers are the unsung heroes making a positive impact in everything they do by addressing social issues head-on.

Building Strong Communities

Social workers understand that communities that are connected, supportive, and inclusive can prevent social problems from arising. This creates a foundation for positive change. Working closely with leaders they create a shared vision of a better future, building trust and collaboration among them.

They also lend their expertise to help with issues that the community might not be able to handle on their own. According to the American Psychological Association, 72% of mental health practitioners are witnessing a higher flow of patients than before the pandemic. In this situation, social workers are picking up the slack, where the mental healthcare industry is falling short.

Social workers are very much like community organizers who bring people together and encourage them to work towards common goals.

Advocacy & Policy Change

Social workers are passionate advocates for policy change at the local, state, and national levels. They work tirelessly to promote social justice and ensure that the needs of vulnerable populations are met. They promote the idea that many social issues are deeply rooted in policy decisions and work to change policies that are unjust or ineffective.

Social workers engage in political advocacy to encourage policies that support the well-being of individuals and communities. They also collaborate with policymakers and other stakeholders. By advocating for policy change, a systemic change can take place and have a lasting impact in the lives of marginalized people groups.

According to research conducted by ‘Social Workin’ there are five different roles social workers play in policy making.

1. They advocate for pressing issues to be noticed by policymakers.
2. They help identify the nuances of the issues that need to be addressed.
3. They help with research and data collection.
4. They monitor the policy-making process to spot any negligence.
5. They take part in policy implementation.

The Future of Social Work

Social work is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that is constantly adapting to meet the needs of individuals and communities. The future of social work is shaped by many factors, including emerging social issues, technological advancements, and changing demographics. Social workers must stay informed about these factors and continue to adapt to meet the changing needs of those they serve.

They must also continue to advocate for policies and programs that address social issues and promote social justice. The impact of social workers on communities is only increasing to meet growing needs.  Their value is also becoming more prominent in the eyes of society. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for social workers is growing at a rate of 9% per year, which is much faster than the average.

The critical role of social workers is fueled by their dedication to promoting social justice and improving the lives of those they come in contact with, as well as countless others who need support.  Social workers are an inspiration to us all and should encourage us to do our part, no matter how small.  Let’s continue to support and recognize the vital work they do striving to create a better world for all.

Some kids are naturally active. They play outside, do sports, and even exercise with you. Then, there are the kids that absolutely despise physical activity. They prefer hobbies that don’t involve exercise, like art, writing, and acting.

But whether your children fall into the first group, the second, or somewhere in between, it’s important to support them in having a healthy, active lifestyle.

Gamifying their fitness routine can encourage physical activity in your kids, whether they love to exercise or hate it. Here’s why.

Why Gamifying Fitness Works for Kids

Gamification is the practice of turning an activity or task into a game or something resembling one. When you add gamelike elements to a sometimes daunting task like exercise, it becomes much more fun and desirable. It’s also easier to complete, which keeps your kids motivated and uplifted.

You can show your children that physical activity doesn’t have to be boring or, worse, so physically and mentally taxing that they never want to do it again. Instead, they can make exercise an enjoyable activity that keeps them fit and challenged.

A Significant Drawback to Gamification

As beneficial as gamifying fitness can be for your kids, there’s a significant drawback to consider. Gamifying fitness can include fun games like obstacle courses, nature walks, and tag. But for this article, we’re talking about gamifying fitness with technology. And that, unfortunately, means more screen time.

Whether your kids are playing a fitness game on their Xbox, following along with a fun workout on their smartphones, or doing some interactive games on their smartwatches, they’re staring at a screen to do it.

Increased screen time for kids can result in a shorter attention span, irritability, neck/shoulder pain, and behavioral issues. It also leads to longer exposure to harmful blue light.

Blue light glasses and filters can help ease the negative effects on your kids’ eyes when they’re engaging with screens. However, it’s best to limit your kids’ screen time. Gamified fitness routines may mean more screens, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put a time limit on how long they participate.

Four Tips for Gamifying the Fitness Experience for Your Kids

Aside from paying attention to screen time, do the following to ensure the gamified fitness experience for your kids is the healthiest and most enjoyable it can be.

Talk Exercise and Fitness Goals With Your Children

It’s incredibly important to talk about exercise and fitness goals with your children. Part of the reason they aren’t excited about physical activities is they don’t have a positive outlook on fitness or any goals to strive for.

Sit down with your kids and discuss getting them to be more physically active. Talk about why fitness is important to their holistic health. See what they say about exercise and listen to why they are or aren’t excited about it.

You may find out they’re struggling with fitness because physical activity is difficult for them in their current state. Or, it just hasn’t been a fun thing for them to do. That’s when you can bring up gamifying fitness.

Once they’re on board with creating a more consistent fitness routine, set some goals. Have your kids write down what they want to achieve as they add more exercise to their lives.

It’s also important to find out your kids’ level of interest in gaming.

Find Out Your Kids’ Level of Interest in Gaming

Gamifying fitness will work a lot better for your kids if they have an actual interest in gaming.

Find out how into gaming your kids are by asking things like:

• Which consoles are they fond of?
• What kind of video and computer games do they play?
• Why do they play them?

Note their answers to these and other questions that give you an idea of their gaming interests.  Really digging into your kids’ gaming interests will give you a blueprint for how to best personalize the gamified fitness experience for them.

Explore Wearables

We’ll get into games and consoles that are good for gamifying fitness for your kids in the next section. But don’t forget to tap into the power of wearables. Wearables are electronic devices that people wear comfortably on their bodies.

Some of the most common wearable devices are:

• Fitness trackers;
• Biosensors;
• Smart health watches;
• Blood pressure monitors;
• ECG monitors.

Wearables can positively impact anyone’s fitness journey, children included, as they make it easy to proactively monitor one’s health. You can also watch fitness videos and participate in games that encourage physical activity from these devices.

The Fitbit Ace 3, Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2, Apple Watch SE, and these other watches and trackers are some of the best on the market right now for kids. Many of the trackers and watches made specifically for kids already include gamified fitness features on them.

Do more research on the wearable tech options out there for kids. If you can take your kids to a physical store that sells them so they can try them out before making a purchase, even better.

Choose the Best Games and Consoles

To truly use technology to gamify fitness for kids, you must make good game and console choices. In other words, choose games and consoles that encourage physical activity.

Here are some console choices to get you started:

• Nintendo Switch;
• Xbox Kinect/Xbox One;
• Nintendo Wii Sports;
• Quell fitness gaming console;
• VR headset and accessories.

Depending on the gaming consoles you have, put these games on your list:

• Wii Fit Plus;
• BOXVR;
• Dance Party;
• Ring Fit Adventure;
• Pokemon Go;
• Zumba Fitness: World Party.

There are many more games and consoles to choose from. Explore them with your children and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Conclusion

Getting your kids to be more physically active can be tough at times. But with the help of gamification, you can spark their interest and keep them motivated to consistently pursue a more active lifestyle.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

Sunny days can be a wonderful time for fun outdoor activities, especially for kids. While sunny days can be fun, ensuring safety when kids are out playing is vital. Sun safety for kids prevents the effects of excessive sun exposure.  Read on to learn how to protect your kids from these effects and protect them from possible sun hazards.

UV Rays and Kids

Generally, we know that excessive exposure to sun rays poses a great risk to your skin health. You could be exposed to UV rays that could impact your skin significantly. And it is critical for everyone to protect vision from UV rays. For kids, the sun effects are worse. Their skin is highly vulnerable to these rays as it is still developing. UV rays can increase your child’s skin cancer risk and cause skin burns.

Therefore, it is vital to reduce kids’ exposure to sun rays. When your child is outdoors playing in the sunshine, always protecting their eyes and skin is vital. This helps prevent skin damage that affects your child’s skin. Excessive exposure to sunshine can also lead to eye injuries.

How to Protect Your Kids from the Sun

The sun can damage your kid’s skin and trigger conditions like skin cancer. Thankfully, you can protect your kids from the sun in several ways. Here are ways you can do so.

Protect Your Child With Clothes

One of the best ways to protect your child is to cover them up. It is crucial to dress up your child in thick clothes that protect against sun rays. To check if the clothes provide enough protection, put your hand inside the clothes and ensure you cannot see your hand through them. You can also get kid clothes with an ultraviolet protection factor. These clothes have labels showing they can protect against the sun; therefore, be sure to check them.

Since kids with lighter skin can burn easily, always dress them in protective clothing. You should also reduce their exposure to sunlight as much as possible. If your kid wants to play in the sun, dress them in protective clothing covering most body parts. Doing so, you help reduce their exposure to sensitive and harmful sun rays.

Encourage Wearing a Hat

You can also protect your child from the sun by encouraging them to wear a hat. While clothes play an excellent role in protecting your kid from sun exposure, they don’t cover some parts of the body. A hat covers the head and helps keep your baby secure. Use a hat with a brim all the way around covering your child’s ears, face, and neck. It is best to go for tightly woven fabric that protects the skin from UV rays. Light hats with holes in them are not ideal for this purpose. Instead, go for hats that protect against UV rays and their effects. Explore a variety of protective hats at 4inbandana to ensure your child stays safe under the sun.

Use Broad-Spectrum SPFs

You can use sunscreens to protect your kid from the sun. It is crucial to know that not all sunscreens are ideal for children. Only use broad-spectrum SPFs on your kids to protect them from the sun. If you want to identify a broad-spectrum SPF, look at the label. This type of sunscreen is ideal because it protects against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

This sunscreen will not harm your child. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects the skin by creating a chemical barrier that reflects or absorbs UV radiation. This is done before the UV rays cause any damage to the skin.

Choose Quality Sunglasses

Sunglasses can also protect your kids from the sun. They protect the eyes from UV rays and reduce the threat of cataracts. Additionally, your kids wearing sunglasses will protect the tender skin around their eyes from exposure to sunlight. For the best protection, you should go for affordable active sunglasses that can protect you from UVB and UVA rays.

Sunglasses can also protect your kids from the sun. They protect the eyes from UV rays and reduce the threat of cataracts. Additionally, your kids wearing sunglasses will protect the tender skin around their eyes from exposure to sunlight. For the best protection, you should go for affordable active sunglasses that can protect you from UVB and UVA rays.

Thankfully, most sunglasses sold in the country meet this standard. If your kids engage in outdoor activities, go for wrap-around sunglasses blocking UV rays. You can also stick to these sunglasses whenever your kids are in the sun.

Make Sure Your Kids Are Hydrated

When your body is well hydrated, the sun will have minimal effects on your skin. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that your kids are hydrated at all times. Let them drink as much water as possible when playing in the sun. Combining this tip with other protective measures will reduce the effects of sun rays. It also helps keep the skin clear.

Set a Good Example

Kids tend to imitate things they see and hear. As a parent, set a good example for your kids. Always wear your hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing when out in the sun. Let your kids know the importance of these measures and the dangers of not doing so. Setting a good example is a reliable way of protecting your kids from the sun.

Safety Tips for Schools

Kids spend most of their time at school. This is why schools must have safety measures. There are several ways schools can protect kids from the sun. For instance, they should encourage kids to wear sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen when playing outdoors. They should also avoid scheduling outdoor activities when the sun is strongest.

More Protection Facts and Tips

Here are more sun safety protection facts and tips you should consider.

• At the Beach – It is vital to use wrap-around sunglasses while at the beach to prevent UV rays from penetrating from the side.
• In the Snow – Ensure your kid wears heavy, protective clothing when out in the snow. You should ensure they have protective headgear at all times.
• In the Car – Car windshields are designed to protect against sun rays. If your kid is in the car, ensure the windows are always up.

Conclusion

It is crucial to protect your kids from the sun. While playing outdoors is fun and exciting for kids, sun rays can be damaging. Use these tips to keep your child safe and with healthy skin. Let them wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and hats that provide the protection needed.