Yes, childhood obesity is an epidemic in the US and most industrialized cultures. Children are not getting enough exercise and physical activity. Makers of video games like Wii-Fit are trying to make an impact and get children more active.
Unfortunately, Wii-Fit's intentions may be good but there methods include a sad flaw. They determine a child's BMI (Body Mass Index). They will tell the child if they fall into an overweight or obese category, too.
Labeling a child based on a generic test is making some folks angry. Elizabeth Hasselbeck (of Survivor and the View TV shows) and English obesity experts are taking issue with the Wii-Fit tactic of measuring body fat through BMI (Body Mass Index).
Watch this video to see what's got them fired-up:
Perhaps Wii-Fit will make more children active. And perhaps some children will wonder what BMI really means. But it seems that the producers of Wii-Fit are making a costly mistake by attempting to take fitness measurements and then scoring children.
Wii-Fit is still a video game. And that is not the best medium for accurate measurements and health education lessons.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Childhood Obesity, Wii-Fit and fat testing: where do video games draw the line?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Portion Out-of-Control: how restaurants make us fat
Americans are being overfed. The typical consumer may be offered twice the amount of calories that their body needs. So, we have been adding calories and gaining weight whenever we eat out.
This interview with Tanya Zuckerbrot describes some of this phenomenon:
What are some answers? How do we avoid gaining weight when we eat out?
Here are some tips:
*Make food choices based on portion size offered
*Ask for a leftover bag immediately when you order, or ask the wait-staff to automatically put 1/2 your meal into a leftover package (if you know you are ordering a large dish)
*Avoid drinking alcohol at the start of your meal. This will cause you to lose sense of satiety and overeat.
*Drink water as soon as you sit down if you are famished.
*Never order appetizers.
*If you must order one, split a dessert.
*Order the most vegetable-laden dish on the menu. Let the fiber fill you up.
*Avoid excess white bread. Ask the waiter Not to bring you rolls, for example.
In this overly-consuming society, we need to understand what we are eating. And we need to know our own bodies' caloric needs. Tune in and stop gaining weight!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Liver disease from teen, childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in American society. Obesity causes an array of serious health problems. Medical conditions and diseases associated with obesity include diabetes (which leads to vision impairment, nerve damage, and early menstruation), high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and other kinds of cardiovascular disease, malnutrition, plus self-esteem problems.
Now there is evidence that childhood obesity is linked to liver disease.
Dr. Tim Johnson from Boston explains the new research findings:
Prevent childhood obesity: get out and play with your children, and teach your children about healthy eating and nutrition!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Overweight beauty? An oxymoron?
It seems that light is finally being shed on research that indicates that being overweight, over-fat, or obese is unhealthy, even if you exercise. Fitness does not negate the disease and health risks of fatness.
A beauty pageant contestant is getting press for her Plus-size figure.
Watch this video about her and check in with your own reaction:
Maybe beauty is only skin-deep, that health is based on one's mental attitude, and so on. But there is no denying the enormous evidence that fit, active adults are more likely to have all the great attributes that these contestants should have.
Exercise improves our sleep (quality and quantity), boosts energy, lowers blood pressure, contributes to a more positive mood, prevents depression, and many MANY more health benefits.
How do you feel about this story and this subject? What is your first reaction?
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