Category Archives: shows

Childhood Obesity

Over the years, childhood obesity in the US has grown considerably. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. Obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but the hardest to treat. Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for 300,000 deaths each year. And the fact is, overweight children are that much more likely to become overweight adults unless they learn and maintain healthier eating patterns and exercise. The causes of obesity are complex, and include biological, genetic, behavioral and cultural factors. Statistics show that one parent who is obese – their child has a 50 percent chance of being obese. However, when both parents are obese, their children have an 80 percent chance of being obese.

The fact is more and more children are spending less time exercising and more time in front of the television, computer, or video game console. And today’s families have fewer and fewer free moments to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals. From fast food to electronics, what ever is quickest and easiest becomes the reality for people in this day and age. Preventing kids from becoming overweight means adapting the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together. Helping kids lead a healthy lifestyle starts with the parents who lead as examples.

As parents, how can we provide our children with healthy eating habits?

How can we motivate our children to spend less time in front of a screen, and more time exercising?

Join us this Wednesday at 8pm CDT to discuss this topic.

This will be an On-Air Hangout.

“It is important to develop an understanding perspective concerning your child’s behavior. Helping children with the process of learning to become mature, well adjusted adults takes patience, determination, and a gentle firmness. It is not easy.”

This week on Mommy Hangout we will be discussing Discipline and Abuse: What is The Difference?

A child doesn’t come with instructions. To some, the difference between abuse and discipline may not be as clear cut. All parents need to draw the line and not give room for any confusion. Abuse is defined as the maltreatment of a person, where as discipline is the training of the mind and character of people.

Abuse can be painful and harmful both psychologically and physically. There are different types of abuses, such as physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and psychological abuse. Inexperienced parents often instill too much strictness, punishment, or control in their children, and it become abusive as the parents begin to cross the limits. Child abuse has been looked down upon in every culture, whereas discipline is acquired by maintaining a balance in the emotional behavior of the child. Panic or anger may turn disciplinary actions into abusive ones which may cause damage to the child’s personality.

The training and making people observe order is defined as discipline. Child abuse and child discipline are two very different things. When teaching a child discipline, the child is kept under some boundary or limits. When child training crosses the limits, it then becomes child abuse.

Join us tomorrow night for our open parenting discussion

This will be an On-Air Hangout