Finally, a positive solution regarding America's difficult and costly campaign to stem childhood obesity is emerging. For the thousands of children and their families who are currently battling with childhood obesity, this good news is long awaited.
Indeed, the risk factors for childhood obesity read like a checklist of ailments that only a generation ago would never have been linked to children and diet: heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and of course, social ridicule and alienation [i]. This latter consequence of childhood obesity -- ridicule and alienation -- has the dual effect of damaging a child both physically and emotionally far beyond childhood, and possibly for the rest of his or her natural life.
For years, medical experts have called for a multi-faceted strategy to address this epidemic. It has been clear that any long-term solution must be fought on four major fronts: physical activity, sedentary behavior, socioeconomic status, and eating habits [ii].
Yet there is room for another pillar; or, at the very least, the identification of another component that must be a part of any lasting solution. This fifth pillar, or undiscovered component, is smart nutritional supplements.
Many obese children have been told repeatedly by well-intentioned dieticians that eating smart is the key to overcoming this scarring condition. This is easier said than done; especially when emotional eating or an unobserved food addiction [1] may fuel adverse eating habits.
Yet being told to "eat smart" is oftentimes not enough. Children must be provided with foods that are nutritionally sound, and foods that they actually enjoy eating. It is this latter criterion that most well-intentioned experts and caregivers overlook. This is explained below.
Most obese children are neither unable to learn, nor willfully disobedient. Some of these children even have remarkable support from their well-adjusted families who dutifully remove the usual suspects of chips, soft drinks, chocolate bars, and other damaging foods from the home. Yet many of these same children continue to gain weight and march ever closer to the litany of health defects noted above.
These children are not sadistic, and they are not attempting to kill themselves through eating; though some do because of the stigma associated with their condition. Indeed, many obese children are cognitively aware of the danger to which they are subjecting their bodies. Yet they continue to snack away in secret, or binge on foods when they get the chance, thereby undoing whatever minor gains might have been achieved in the previous few days or weeks.
The problem is one of food selection. Generally speaking, children of all weights and shapes will not eat something that they do not like. For obese children who have typically had unfettered access to highly stimulating foods such as gravies and sugar-loaded soft drinks, the willpower to eat unpalatable foods is undeveloped. Indeed, the dietician may snack away on carrots and celery while talking to an obese child about the importance of eating smart. For the obese child, carrots and celery are foreign foods for which there is no known preference.
This fifth pillar, or new component, is therefore one that provides obese children with nutritional supplements that they will eat. As stunningly obvious ? even axiomatic ? as this seems, it has been lost on many experts until recently.
Thankfully, as noted above, there is a solution emerging. It is one that meets this demand for tasty, healthy foods. Forward-thinking companies that understand their consumers are creating low-calorie, highly nutritious foods fortified with life-sustaining vitamins and protein. More importantly: they are tasty, and are often packaged in colorful containers that are "teen-friendly". Companies including MetRx?, Experimental and Applied Sciences?, Protica Research?, and others develop products that fit well within these requirements. Granted, a healthy diet does not start or end with nutritional supplements. A healthy diet employs nutritional supplements to complement and fortify real foods.
Indeed, children and families affected by the obesity epidemic in America are cautiously optimistic at this point; after all, they have been promised solutions in the past. However, thanks to the next generation of nutritional supplements, there is an expectation that this optimism will steadily grow with every success story, and every child that recovers from the potentially devastating impact of obesity.
ABOUT PROTICA
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com
You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com
REFERENCES
[i] Source: "The Problem of Overweight in Children and Adolescents". The US Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/fact_adolescents.htm
[ii] Source: "Childhood Obesity". American Obesity Association. http://www.obesity.org/subs/childhood/causes.shtml
Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com
trusted cleaning company Lake Forest ..The debate regarding Fluoride continues to rage, is it good... Read More
How often do you pick up items at the grocery... Read More
Many of us, probably even you, want this thing called... Read More
Finally, dieters and healthy eaters everywhere have reason to rejoice,... Read More
ABC News has recently focused on the possible anti-aging benefits... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary... Read More
With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More
With the array of different diets and diet foods available... Read More
The Immune System is probably the most important system in... Read More
The Omega Zone Diet and specialists' opinion"Omega RX Zone -... Read More
I am going to share with you possibly the most... Read More
Because of consumer demand, the food industry focus is on... Read More
Have you ever watched someone who appears thin and healthy... Read More
Did you know that much of our dry skin comes... Read More
It would be fair to assume that almost everyone on... Read More
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
People who consume too much alcohol have good chance of... Read More
Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes... Read More
(ARA) - By now you probably think you've heard all... Read More
Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years... Read More
DeathDeath. Why it happens? Why do we die? Why do... Read More
Fats (triacylglycerols) ...Some basic terminology ...fat or fatty acid ...In... Read More
What is Cholesterol?Before we go into how to reduce your... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Lincolnshire ..Eating orange mean absorbing vitamin C to our body, is... Read More
My name is Mildred Shears. I'm retired and I live... Read More
Wow! Is it just me or? Wait! Let me start... Read More
Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
Have you ever watched someone who appears thin and healthy... Read More
Each and every person living in the UK is... Read More
Are there any benefits to be obtained from drinking water... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
The secret of success is knowing how to deal with... Read More
Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More
All of my life I believed the best way to... Read More
For most people, the concept of capsulized food? usually conjures... Read More
The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such... Read More
Established in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, "Foundation for Innovation in... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More
DeathDeath. Why it happens? Why do we die? Why do... Read More
What I am also going to point out is the... Read More
Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It's a... Read More
Some of the things you think you know that just... Read More
The Food Pyramid, first introduced to the US in 1992,... Read More
Recently yet another super-heavyweight Iron Immortal died from a heart... Read More
If you are like most people, you are probably confused... Read More
The Mediterranean Diet is now recognized as one of the... Read More
The topic of nutrition is one that is always present... Read More
Nutrition |