The World Health Organization calls childhood obesity “one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century”.  Worldwide, an estimated 42 million children under age five are overweight.  In the United States alone, one-third of children and adolescents — about 25 million — are overweight or obese.

Our bodies are made to retain extra calories as fat — a feature that serves us well if food is scarce.  However, the modern Western diet includes a glut of high-calorie, low-nutrient manufactured foods that interfere with the body’s innate ability to regulate its weight.  These foods are less filling than whole foods, which easily leads to over-consumption.

The good news is that childhood obesity is both preventable and reversible.  Try these suggestions to keep your child in optimal health and put the brakes on the obesity epidemic.

• Breastfeed for a smart start
• Choose drinks carefully
• Limit exposure to marketing
• Make whole foods a fun family affair
• Tend a family garden

In addition to regular physical activity, Dr. Smith counsels patients young and old to avoid processed foods and embrace a nutrient-rich diet of what proponents call “real food”. Dr. Barbara Smith
Chiropractor and Health Educator
health@doctorbarb.com