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
family-safe home cleaners Lincolnshire ..Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to... Read More
Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to... Read More
The confusion about eating healthy and dieting will now be... Read More
These are questions we have to ask ourselves? because after... Read More
Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More
Each and every person living in the UK is... Read More
Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More
1880s - Characterization of monosaccharides by Emil Fischer.1952 - Fresh,... Read More
We all need fat in our diet on a daily... Read More
Increasing the fiber in your diet has been shown to:... Read More
A fictional overheard conversation at a Thelma's Fine Dining.Hi, I'm... Read More
A flood of scientific evidence about fish oil points to... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
We come from a society where growing organic and just... Read More
My name is Mildred Shears. I'm retired and I live... Read More
America's major dietary deficiency - EFA a panacea for good... Read More
Although many realize that the liver has its own cleansing... Read More
Do you want more energy? How about more of the... Read More
Soy, and most soy-based products, are nutritional powerhouses. Soybeans are... Read More
How Can... Read More
Dieters who dejectedly complain they are figuratively "stuck" with their... Read More
Students might start thinking a little differently, once they learn... Read More
Food nutrition factsFinding food nutrition facts and dietary nutrition used... Read More
Essential fatty acids are the number one recommendation for anyone... Read More
If you want to lose weight, there is one thing... Read More
maide service in Buffalo Grove ..Unfortunately, it has been proved beyond doubt that a large... Read More
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the healthiest of them... Read More
How did we cure ourselves of many aches pains and... Read More
People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe... Read More
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed.... Read More
If you want to build muscle, lose body fat or... Read More
Proper hydration is extremely important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
Our bodies need cholesterol. We use cholesterol to produce vitamin... Read More
Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
Much controversy and argument surrounds the idea that food may... Read More
You may have noticed an ever-expanding choice of oils at... Read More
I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating... Read More
THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
Eating out when you are on a restricted diet always... Read More
It is shocking how many people are not taking advantage... Read More
Some people say to themselves, junk food is not that... Read More
Is the thrill gone? Has the thrill gone out of... Read More
Can You Lose Weight Through Eating?You get fat when you... Read More
America's focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention... Read More
Despite the fact that accurate nutrition information can be accessed... Read More
Okay, so you think you are doing pretty well with... Read More
As you've probably heard before, your post-workout meal may very... Read More
I'd like to explain an important concept that most online... Read More
I don't understand people sometimes. You know, there is a... Read More
Nutrition |