Epidemic of the 21st Century–Overweight, Sick Kids!

Jamie McManus, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs & Education

Children who watch TV while eating are twice as likely to eat “junk” food as opposed to fruits
and vegetables.

Today’s sedentary lifestyle for children is raising their risk of obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis
and other disorders.  Read how you can help reverse this alarming trend.

Today’s parents are having their pediatrician tell them their 11-year-old son has Type 2
diabetes or their 16-year-old daughter has osteoporosis. The “out-of-control” lifestyles
fashioned by the adults of the past 40 years has led to a 50% increase in the diagnosis of
Type 2 diabetes–the kind of diabetes that used to be known as “adult onset” because this
obesity-related disorder wasn’t usually diagnosed until age 50 or older!

Making wellness a family affair
If we begin to place an emphasis on eating healthy foods and increasing activity levels in
our children, we can reverse these alarming trends. Here are a few guidelines for dealing
with overweight children. Be sure the child has been evaluated by a medical doctor to
assure there are no reasons why losing weight would be a problem. Children can begin their
day with a Dinomins multivitamin tablet and a shake made with nonfat milk or soy milk.
Or how about a delicious DinoShake®?

Stopping the epidemic
Choose to set the example of picking up an apple instead of an ice-cream bar. Stop
smoking. Turn off the television or computer and shoot some hoops with your children or go
for a walk. Be sure to take your dog so you won’t have a fat dog at risk for diabetes and
heart disease–yes, they develop the same diseases as humans! Let’s make the 21st
century the century of wellness, family values and quality of life. Let’s start today.