The obesity epidemic is here! It is now a well-known and accepted fact, while some may have questioned and even tried to disagree, we are no longer in a position to deny it. Our children are becoming unhealthier as evidenced by the increasing number of children being diagnosed with adult onset chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, chronic hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. The million dollar question is no longer what will happen in 20-30 years when this current generation reaches adulthood but can we do anything to reverse this trend, and this is where experts disagree.
As an obese mother, I know I can’t wait for the experts to agree on a solution because I refuse to allow my children to become victims of my poor habits, and so every day I have to wake up and make a conscious decision about my food choices, my activity and exercise habits. In addition to policing myself, I also have to be aware of the choices I make for my children, snacks, fruits, vegetables, exercise/ play activity. Am I doing enough, am I providing them with right opportunity or am I being too paranoid and obsessive about things that should come naturally.
Not long ago there was Vogue had an article narrating the trials and tribulations a mother endured by taking an active role in managing her daughter’s obesity. While I don’t condone her described actions, I can sincerely say that I have been there, I understand the fear of being responsible for your child’s unhappiness for something that is preventable. The message is often confusing: we love cute fat babies but we shudder at fat toddlers, children or adolescents….but the fat babies become those fat toddlers, so I can’t wait until the problem is here and address it, I have stay one step ahead.
So when I wake up most morning at 5am to head to the gym, I am now realizing that it is no longer about me, or my dreams of a hard-won, toned and healthy body, it’s about setting the right stage for my kids, it’s about developing a healthy body image so my children, especially my daughter, grow up with a healthy body image, an image that promotes healthy food choices, daily activity through play and eventually exercise. I don’t ever want my daughter to become self-conscious about her body, or wonder whether she is pretty enough or attractive enough. Let them grow up marveling at all the things their healthy body can do: run, skip, jump, climb, lift, carry, bike, play!
