6
Greater Nanaimo/Ladysmith Family
CHILDREN FIRST / SUCCESS BY 6
Ask a pediatrician I am worried that my child is overweight. What can I do? Dr. Wilma Arruda says: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in Canada. Evidence links certain risk factors in children with heart disease. It is important to achieve a healthy active lifestyle in childhood. Over the past 20 years the number of children that are overweight has increased from 5-6% to an astonishing 30-40%. At this rate of increase it is estimated that obesity will reach epidemic proportions within the next 10 years. This trend is of particular concern because obesity in childhood and adolescence has been associated with increased risks of high blood pressure, type II diabetes, high blood cholesterol and early atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) as well as increased risk of adult obesity. This rapid rate of increase in the number of overweight and obese children is associated with: Eating too much - easy availability of non-nutritious foods (junk food); Eating the wrong foods – increased intake of high fat/calorie foods along with a decrease in fruit and vegetable intake;
Sedentary lifestyle - not getting enough exercise. What can you do? ◆ Be a model for healthy eating and physical activity for your child. ◆ Cook healthy meals at home using Canada’s Food Guide as a guide. ◆ Encourage sit down meals together as a family without distractions such as TV. ◆ Prepare one meal for ALL family members and resist making a separate meal for someone
who “doesn’t like that”. ◆ Reduce the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet. ◆ Increase the amount of vegetables and fruit in the diet – a healthy plate of food is half salad/vegetables, one quarter starch (potatoes, rice, etc), and one quarter protein (meat/poultry/fish/soy). ◆ Limit portions of food and second helpings. Provide portions that are appropriate for the age of the child. ◆ Limit eating out, especially fast food. ◆ Eat when hungry – avoid snacks before mealtimes. ◆ Avoid high calorie snacks as treats or rewards. ◆ Breast feed infants. ◆ Play with your kids; ◆ Walk or bike instead of drive; ◆ Increase the number of family outings that involve walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, or other recreational activities; ◆ Limit screen time (TV watching, playing video games and computer use). Very young children should spend less than 1 hour/day on these activities. By Dr. Wilma Arruda, Community Pediatrician, Nanaimo.
North Nanaimo Early Learning Centre
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Provides interactive skill building in a pre-school type setting. Circle time, phonics, outdoor play etc.
Sign up today and get your children Kindergarten-ready! Lic# Kmon7mdsfk
250-390-0701 nanaimoearlylearning.com
Contact Information 20 Fifth St. Nanaimo, BC V9R 1M7 Phone: 250-754-3215 Fax: 250-754-4771 Email: reception@bgccvi.com Website: www.bgccvi.com