Depending on age, gender and ethnicity, from 16 to 42 percent of the nation’s children are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. It is difficult to promote healthy habits in children when they are constantly bombarded with unhealthy snack options at school and at home, fancy packaging, and television commercials.
According to Ruth Bindler, associate professor at the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing, one in four children under five years of age has a television in his or her bedroom, with the incidence even higher in older children. Amid all these persuasive messages, it’s important for parents to impart on their children an extremely important message: that of a healthy lifestyle. In addition to a decreased rate of overweight, the American Medical Association has suggested a link between fit children and good performance in school. Children participating in physical activity and eating a nutritious diet are apt to focus better and longer, and achieve higher scores and school performance.
It is never too soon to encourage healthy habits in your children, and the easiest way is to set a positive example. Eat healthy foods at home, provide nutritious snacks and exercise with your children. Kids learn best through example, so show them what it is like to be fit and well. Exercising does not have to be tedious and should be fun. Ruth Bindler, associate professor at the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing suggests doing a workout video with children, going to an organized gym, riding bikes, skiing, hiking, walking to the store and making a snow fort in the winter. Other options include persuading kids to play outside, walk the dog, roll down a hill or play tag.
For assistance in reaching Bindler, bindler@wsu.edu, contact Susan Nielsen, College of Nursing marketing and communications manager, at 509.991.9151,
