Non Stick Spray and Non Stick Pans are NOT worth "STICKING" to....

I cooked up some gold old fashioned eggs this morning, so I could give my usual oatmeal a break. ;) Anyway, as I sprayed my pan with olive oil, I was excited to find yet another simple smart exchange you can make that will be beneficial to your health.

Are you an avid user of non-stick sprays like PAM or Baker's Joy?










These Sprays contain chemicals and additives that may be harmful to your health. For more information, please read the following information I found from the following website.
http://www.examiner.com/sustainable-foods-in-boston/5-reasons-not-to-use-commercial-cooking-sprays



5 Reasons not to use commercial Cooking Sprays:


1. Cooking sprays contain unhealthy additives


Home cooks typically don’t intend to add dubious ingredients like soy lecithin, mono and diglycerides, dimethylpolysiloxane, dimethyl silicone, or artificial flavors to their carefully selected meals, especially since the long term effects of these chemicals are still unknown. Nevertheless, many varieties of cooking spray contain exactly these things, especially when opting for artificially flavored varieties, like butter.


2. Cooking sprays contain genetically modified ingredients (GMO’s)


While things like soy, corn, or rapeseeds (canola) in and of themselves may not sound bad, the problem lies in the origin of the crops. Sadly, the vast majority of these foods (over 90 percent according to GMO Compass) are derived from genetically modified seeds, which have been altered so that growers can use more pesticides (without killing the plant itself) and therefore yield more crops.


According the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, animal studies have repeatedly shown serious health risks including infertility, auto-immune disorders, diabetes, and changes in major organs including the gastrointestinal system. The AAEM even went so far as to ask physicians to advise patients to avoid GM foods.


To further compound this problem, GM foods contain markedly higher levels of pesticides than conventional crops, increasing the risks of these already dangerous chemicals.


3. Cooking sprays contain soy


Although soy is typically viewed as healthy, people are consuming more of it today than at any other time in history. This is namely because it is an additive in just about every processed food available, leaving many experts fearing that there could be unintended health consequences to such overconsumption.


A Harvard University study, for example, reported that eating as little as one half serving of soy per day resulted in problems such as infertility in males and increased breast cancer risk in females. Other experts propose that the soy laden diet of today may also be a contributing factor in the increased incidence of soy allergies, which have increased by 50 percent since 1998, according to Nexus Magazine.


4. Cooking sprays may negatively impact lung health


In 2007, Seattle PI conducted studies on 22 leading cooking sprays. They found that even small amounts of the sprays, when heated, released high concentrations of diacetyl, a chemical that causes serious and even fatal respiratory disease under repeated, long-term exposure. Although manufacturers have since removed products containing diacetyl from the market, some health advocates fear that using aerosol products is still risky since the long-term effects of inhaling the particles and vapors of other artificial ingredients isn’t known.


5. Cooking sprays are bad for the environment


Cooking sprays are environmentally unsound on a couple of fronts. First, all of them contain unspecified propellants, usually nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas and, according Science Daily, “the largest ozone depleting substance emitted through human activity.” It also doesn’t break down easily, so nitrous oxide released into the environment now is expected to continue to do damage for decades to come.


The second problem is the amount of unnecessary waste created by the packaging. If every household in the U.S. used just one can of cooking spray per year, this would amount to 115 million cans that end up in landfills annually. While one could argue that they are recyclable, one must keep in mind that the recycling process also requires a great deal of energy, in the form of heat, electricity etc.


__________________________________________________________________________________


So what is the solution? Do what your grandmother did and simply wipe down your pots and pans with organic, cold-pressed cooking oils such as olive, canola, or grape seed. Or, if you simply must have a spray, most home goods stores sell hand-pump spray bottles designed to fill with any cooking oil you choose. You won't get that disgusting buildup on your cookware, and your body and the environment will be better off. And believe me, there are plenty of other ways to clean your shower.

Here's what I use...


Pilippo Berio






Now! If you are thinking...well, I don't USE non stick spray because I use a NON-STICK pan.





Well, I hate to burst your bubble but you may want to consider trading out your non-stick for some cast iron. Read the following article to find out more...


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1244883/Non-stick-pan-chemical-linked-thyroid-disease.html
Non-stick pan chemical is linked to thyroid disease





Thyroid link: Non-stick cookware contains the chemical


A chemical found in non- stick cookware and food packaging has been linked to thyroid disease.


The substance, PFOA, which is found throughout the home, has previously been branded potentially carcinogenic.


Now it has been further called into question by research which shows that those with higher levels in the blood have higher rates of thyroid disease.


Women - who are more susceptible to thyroid problems - are at double the risk, according to the study. PFOA is used in industrial and consumer goods including non- stick cookware such as Teflon-coated pans - where it becomes unstable at very high temperatures - fast-food packaging, and flame-resistant and stain-resistant coatings for carpets and fabrics.


It appears to get into the body by being swallowed or breathed in and there is no way of lowering levels in the blood.


Researcher David Melzer, a professor of epidemiology and public health, said: 'There have long been suspicions that PFOA concentrations might be linked to changes in thyroid hormone levels.


'Our analysis shows that in the "ordinary" adult population there is a solid statistical link between higher concentrations of PFOA in blood and thyroid disease.'


However, other experts pointed to research into workers with consistently high levels of exposure to the chemical that has not found a link with thyroid disease .


Concerns over PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and a similar chemical PFOS since the 1990s led U.S. safety chiefs to link them to cancer. Manufacturers have agreed to phase them out by 2015.





The British researchers, from the University of Exeter and the Peninsula Medical School, analysed blood samples from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.


Samples from almost 4,000 adults taken between 1999 and 2006 were analysed for chemicals including PFOA and PFOS, the journal Environmental Health Perspectives reports.


The researchers found those with the highest 25 per cent of PFOA concentrations were more than twice as likely to have thyroid disease than individuals with the lowest 50 per cent of PFOA concentrations.


The study also showed that 16 per cent of women in the top quarter had the disease compared with just 8 in the bottom quarter.


The type of thyroid problem, whether over-active or underactive, was unknown.


Previous animal studies have shown the compounds can affect the function of the thyroid hormone system.


This is essential for maintaining heart rate, regulating body temperature and supporting many other body functions, including metabolism, reproduction, digestion and mental health.


Tamara Galloway, a professor in Ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter and the study's senior author, said: 'Our results highlight a real need for further research into the human health effects of lowlevel exposures to environmental chemicals like PFOA that are ubiquitous in the environment and in people's homes.'


But Dr Diane Benford, Head of Toxicology of Food at the Food Standards Agency, said: 'Studies of workers with higher exposure to these compounds have not shown consistent evidence of increased risk of thyroid disease, which would be expected if effects are occurring in the general population.'

Apparently PFOA's are the Culprit and have been found to cause cancer cells. Here is another interesting article.

http://www.befoodsmart.com/blog/risks-of-non-stick-cookware-too-great-to-ignore/#more-120



Risks of Non-Stick Cookware Too Great to Ignore




You have a wonderful assortment of organic, local vegetables that you are ready to cook. You pour a little olive oil into your non-stick pan and saute your veggies. What do you get? Delicious sauteed veggies with a side of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Wait, what?
What is PFOA?


PFOA is the chemical used to make the non-stick coating on cookware (pots, pans, muffin tins, baking sheets, etc.) and electric cooking appliances (griddles, indoor grills, sandwich makers, etc.). Products with Teflon can contain levels of the chemical or similar chemicals (such as Polytetrafluoroethylene or “PFTE”). PFOA is widely used in other products such as carpet, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant clothing, and in water repellents for fabric and upholstery.


We are exposed to PFOA through drinking water, air, dust, food packaging, breast milk, umbilical cord blood, and microwave popcorn. When non-stick cookware is exposed to high heat, the chemical gets into the air and there can be a risk of PFOA exposure.

Why Does PFOA Pose a Risk to my Health?

On the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, this is what they have to say about PFOA:

“Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), also known as “C8,” is a synthetic chemical that does not occur naturally in the environment… EPA has been investigating PFOA because it:

Is very persistent in the environment
Is found at very low levels both in the environment and in the blood of the general U.S. population
Remains in people for a very long time
Causes developmental and other adverse effects in laboratory animals.”


When tested, the chemical has been found in all or virtually all people’s blood, including newborn infants. Many animal and human studies over the years have shown that PFOA may cause a multitude of health concerns. These include, low birth rates, developmental delays, various forms of cancer, tumors, and liver toxicity; although the makers of PFOA maintain that the chemical is safe for humans and there is no reason for concern.
PFOA and Children


A recent September 2010 study from the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center studied 12, 476 children and was titled, Compounds in non-stick cookware may be associated with elevated cholesterol in children and teens. The study found PFOA and a related chemical, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), at higher levels than expected. In addition, the children and teens with these higher blood levels, “…appear more likely to have elevated total and LDL cholesterol levels according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.” While the study does not definitively prove a causal effect between PFOA and elevated cholesterol levels, the results should be enough to make any parent think twice about the chemical.
What Should I Do?


It is impossible to completely avoid PFOA exposure since it is found everywhere. When possible, avoid clothing, fabrics, upholstery and furniture that is stain-resistant as the item likely contains PFOA. It is difficult to find alternatives, but more options are now available to concerned consumers.


Reduce exposure in the kitchen, by moving away from anything non-stick. In the spirit of self-disclosure, I personally have non-stick cookware in the house. We got rid of our non-stick pots and pans a few years ago, but I realized we still have non-stick muffin tins, baking dishes and loaf pans. However, after doing the research for this article, I will be switching away from using these items. While clean up with non-stick cookware is a breeze, the health implications associated with PFOA are just not worth it.


Be Food Smart will be profiling other cookware options in the coming weeks such as stainless steel and cast iron

If you want to research more about what TEFLON/NONSTICK cookware may be doing to your health, just do your research. Google PFOA. Go ahead...just read what the EPA has to say about it.


So next time you're out...pick up some olive oil spray and a cast iron or stainless steel skillet. It'll be worth your while!

Cheers to health!


I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

It's That Time of Year Again...A Great Tool for Keeping You on Track

While I am not big on calorie counting, it's just a simple fact...if you want to maintain your weight, you must have a calorie balance. In other words, you must expend as many calories as you consume or you will gain weight. While eating clean foods certainly helps you keep a nice healthy metabolism, eating copious amount of superfoods will still cause weight gain if you aren't expending those calories through your daily activity. And in my situation where I am unable to workout for God only knows how long...this is going to be my greatest challenge!!!! 

What makes me feel better right now? Yep, you guessed it...FOOD! I am used to being able to maintain my weight with about 2500 calories because of my activity level. I am now doing a lot of nothing and therefore probably have to shave about 1000 calories off of my intake. OH MY GOSH!!! That is a LOT of food!! Maybe this is a good time for me to fast. 

Totally KIDDING!

For those of you who start packing on the pounds around this time of year or for those of you who are gimp like myself, it may be a good idea for you to keep track of your calorie balance. We are surrounded by empty calories this time of year and while eating a snack size piece of candy may not seem like a big deal...all the munching adds up and the pounds start creeping in. Hence the "New Years Resolutions" right?

A friend of mine (thank you Gabi!) introduced a tool to me about 6 months ago that helps you keep track of your eating habits. I absolutely LOVE it because I can actually keep up with it. Food Journaling is for the focused and organized. NOT me so much. 

Anyway it's called My Fitness Pal. You can manage it online AND there is an app for it for both the Iphone and Smartphone. You set up your profile online...like your weight and your goals, etc. You can also befriend people which helps you stay accountable and challenge each other. 

Here's what I love the most though!!! On your phone, there is a barcode. So rather than having to search for the food you are eating and the serving size and all that, you can just scan the barcode of the food you are eating and log it right in. I LOVE it. It keeps everything in a database, so eventually (if you eat a lot of the same foods) you can just enter it right in with the touch of your finger. 

The other thing I love is that it keeps track of your nutrient intake. For instance, I am anemic, so my iron intake is very important. I am able to see if I am getting enough iron in my food. I've taken iron pills before, and if you were my friend during that time...you KNOW what iron pills do to me. ;)

Anyway, I need to run. Typing on the computer is kind of a no no right now, but I missed blogging so much. There is SO much I want to share, but sitting at the computer is bad for my back. I'm really doing my best to chill and I'm trying not to turn into Jabba the Hutt in the meantime. hehe. 

Thing is...I know you all would still love me even if I did become Jabba. You guys rock. 

Check out My Fitness Pal. If you sign up...look for me. My username is C34U. 

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

My Favorite Ways to Cleanse!

We all have our bad days or weeks right? You know, where you went to a party and ate too much junk or you drank too much wine or perhaps you spent an entire week binging on ritz crackers at 3pm. And by the way, why do you still have ritz crackers at your house? Get them out!

Anyway, for me...as is the case with most women...we have certain "weeks" where we eat too many comfort foods. It's ok. Let's not beat ourselves up! It's those darn hormones! But whether it's a premenstrual binge or just your good ole classic gluttonous indulgence...in the aftermath, we feel toxic and bloated. We feel over salted and oversugared. We feel groggy and cranky. We want to debloat fast, but cleaning up our standard eating habits forces us to be patient. 

We know that dieting, major calorie restriction, or any other form of extreme measure will screw up our metabolisms and further upset our hormonal imbalances, so what's a natural way to get back on the fast track?

First of all...WATER! Are you still consuming at least 1/2 a gallon? Adding lemon is a great natural cleanser. This is a given. Why do we need reminding! Drink up!

Second...Exercise! Sweat people. I like to spend an hour doing cardio in solitude when trying to break a detox sweat. It forces me to focus and recenter. When I'm done and I'm drenched in sweat, I know I've undergone a nice cleansing. This takes great discipline. I come armed and ready for an hour of just cardio. I don't believe in this as a regular form of effective exercise. It will eat muscle tissue and it is hard on your joints. Incorporate conditioning into your workouts and you won't have to spend so much time on a treadmill trying to stay fit. But for the purpose of jumpstarting a detox, this works!

Third...Epsom Salt baths. It draws the toxins out of your pores. You're muscles relax. And you get to be alone in a hot bath. Add chamomile, lavender, or other oil that calms your senses. You can get epsom salts pretty much anywhere. Add a cup or two to your bath.

These are inexpensive and you can find them at most regular stores

Finally, my favorite natural remedy for helping my body (liver, kidneys, and GI tract) flush out the toxins is Dandelion Root Tea (Roasted). I know...all of you who hated me on the green tea challenge, this is the last thing you want to hear...drink more herbal tea. But it WORKS. I love the taste too. I have been drinking this all week. I drink it with green tea mid afternoon and before bed. It'll make you pee like crazy. I have been less bloated. I'm feeling pretty fresh and fabulous on this Thursday. Now if only I can avoid another weekend binge! 

To read more on Dandelion Root Tea, click on the link below

http://www.naturalherbsguide.com/dandelion.html

I'll copy and paste a little excerpt for you. 

Dandelion Benefits also include:

• It is a gentle diuretic
• It can purify the bloodstream and liver, and it can stimulate the manufacture of bile
• It can decrease the amounts of serum cholesterol and uric acid
• It can maximize the performance of the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and stomach
• It is very beneficial to menopausal women
• It is effective in treating abscesses, anemia, boils, breast tumors, and cirrhosis of the liver
• It may avert the development of age spots or breast cancer

Oh, and I do have one other way that I cleanse that is awesome. But you'll have to send me a personal email for it, cause it's not something I want to go public with. I swear by it though. ;)

If anyone has any other natural ways to cleanse and detox...please share. I know there are lots, but I'm only interested in the ones that are safe and healthy. 

Have a fabulous DAY!!!

Perk Em Up!

Here's a great chest exercise with some core work sprinkled in. 

Equipment:

1. Bench Press Machine

(if you have to, you can use a step or even the floor)

AND

2. Weighted Bar. 

Use only enough weight that you feel a burn after about 30-45 secs. So don't go heavy

 

NOT this much weight please. ;)

*Chest Exercise: 

You will perform the following 2 exercises for 3 rounds. If one minute is too long then you can ladder down. 1 min. 45 sec. 30 sec. Because this is timed, your goal is to get in as many reps as you can. Take only breaks that are long enough for you to regain your strength. 

1. Bench Press (1 min)

Hands are wide on the bar. Lower back stays pressed into the bench. Bench press at a rapid but consistent pace. Remember not to go too heavy because you're about to follow up with pushups. 

See Picture above

2. Pushups On Bench (1min)

Put your hands on the bench and do as many pushups as you can in one min. A lower option is to take it to the floor or come down on your knees.

Take a quick rest and repeat 2 more times

__________________________________________________________________________________

*Core exercise: 

This will keep the fire in your chest and work your abs AND give you cardio. Triple whammy

1. Windshield wipers (20 total/10 on each side)

Hold the bar above your chest with arms extended. Lift and lower your legs side to side.

Do what she is doing except you are on the floor and holding the bar above your chest

2. Mountain Climbers (30 sec to a min)

Repeat this 3 times.

You're golden!

Enjoy!

I'm BACK!

...or at least for right now at this very moment. I am pain free! I can think SO clearly when pain isn't shooting up from my spine into my brain cells.

I just got back from the physical therapist and they did electroshock therapy, ultrasound heat, and massage. I don't know if it was all that or the fact that I relaxed for an hour...but my pain is GONE! That was NUTZ! And my therapist is a southern black man from Alabama with so much soul he puts my drama to shame. I love him. He made me laugh harder than I've laughed in a long time. Thank God it wasn't the same man that assessed me yesterday. He was like death warmed over. Anyway, Lily was with me and every time the therapist left the room, she'd say in the most sincere of ways, "Mommy, he talks crazy." Lol. I said..."Well, honey. Enjoy it. There are too many deadbeats in this world." I love joyful people. My therapist totally gave me a life lesson too. He reminded me that there is nothing in this world that can take away my happiness but my own self. I need to just enjoy life. 

He said my ambition is going to kill me before it heals me.

Hmmmm....I can see it now... "The ambitious girl on a mission to bring healing dies at age 35 from stress." Lol. 

Let me tell you something FOLKS. All the organic superfoods in the world and the perfect fitness regime cannot guard you against the destructive forces of stress. 

THANK GOD FOR YOGA!!! Practicing yoga every day has been amazing. Just a few years ago...I hated the end of yoga when you had to lay down and "relax" for 10 mins. It felt like such a waste of time. It is now the most important 10 mins of my whole day. It's so quiet. My head is so clear. My brain feels so organized when I leave class. 

Lately I have had this overwhelmingly clear message from God. I keeping hearing these words..."Don't Do. Just Be." Listen. Listen. Listen. Be. Be. Be. Instead of getting up in the morning and working out or blogging or cleaning or whatever...I have started to just be quiet. I sit still...usually out back if it's not too cold. I'm quiet and I listen. When all of the clutter in my brain is gone, all of the important things remain. And the important things are few, and I realize that my life really isn't all that complicated. And in FACT, it's quite fantastic. The messages I am receiving are clear...I am blessed, I am loved, I am gifted, and there is nothing to fear. I'm regaining a sense of peace right now and I have more clarity about my direction in life. 

In the midst of all this "BEing" and listening, I decided to write down my goals and anything else I heard in my silence that was absolutely clear. I promised not to get too detailed and I vowed not to go over the top or embellish simple truths. I just think it is important to stay focused on what it is you really want, who it is you really are, and what it is you're really all about. It keeps things simple and daily details become less distracting and confusing. When I know where I am headed, little things roll off my back.

I think defining our goals on a regular basis is an important practice. For me, it means writing things down. When I wake up in the morning I look over them and try to keep those things at the forefront of my mind. They influence my decisions and they keep me from getting distracted. We get bombarded by information in our quest to "be all that we can be" and then we become overwhelmed. But information should be used to free us...not burden us. Once we begin feeling burdened it is a sign that we need to slow down. We need to filter. And we need to process. 

Don't bypass these opportunities. What are you really about? What is it you really want? If your life isn't congruent with your beliefs, it will make you sick. Trust me. I know. 

I encourage and challenge you to spend a 10-30 min chunk of time every day to just be quiet and listen....don't DO. Just BE. What will you hear? What will you learn? And by the way, it's ok for your goals to be fueled by your desires. Desire is a raw driving force behind most of our actions anyway. Acknowledging your hearts desires will help you understand who you are and will keep you from channeling them in an offensive way. Don't be who you think you should be. Be who you ARE. Do you know who that is? Write those things down and/or talk about them with someone you're close to. When your head is clear and your goals are defined, you walk in a much straighter line. When your path isn't crooked, you'll get where you're headed much faster. 

Now! It's time for me to get this office cleaned up so I can reach the goal of finishing my education and furthering my career! :)

Cheers to a healthy body AND a healthy soul!

Can't wait to share this week's health craze with you!

It also time to go back to cabinet transformation. There are 3 more poisons we need to get out. How are you all doing with the first 3?

1. Hydrogenation

2. High Fructose Corn Syrup

3. Refined Grains

Have you gotten in the habit of getting rid of these? Are you in the habit of finding alternatives?

Just checkin. ;)

Peace out!

Is All this Really Worth It?!

I am challenged rather frequently about the way that I feed my family. I'm ok with it. It gives me an opportunity to verbalize my beliefs about food and nutrition, but it can be frustrating because it's hard to explain a system of belief that has developed over time and is based on such a broad scope of information and personal experience.  Isn't this true for everything we believe strongly about?

I have to be honest though and say that sometimes I want to throw my hands up and say "Is all this clean eating and healthy living really worth it?! To heck with it! I'm going to save myself some cash for something else...something that makes me feel good right NOW!" I feel this way a lot these days because we are financially tight being that I don't have a paying job at the moment. It's endlessly frustrating trying to figure out how to afford to eat healthy when only 3 months ago, it wasn't so much of a problem. And then when my kids are bouncing off the walls, I'm having a fat day, and my gas tank is on empty, it's doubly frustrating. Again...I want to throw my hands up, go on a low carb diet, drive through McDondalds to get the kids some dog nuggets, and pop a pill for my back pain and the headache my life is giving me. 

IS ALL THIS REALLY WORTH IT?!!

Yesterday was grocery day. I was in a bad mood the whole time I was at the commissary and I was being judgmental about all the moms with those baseball card binders full of coupons whose carts were filled to the brim with Chef Boyardee and fruit loops. (You rarely find a coupon for something nutritious). And why was I trying to do the right thing by eating healthy, but I could hardly afford my own cart whose bottom was barely covered with things, and so on and so on.... You know, all that whiney stuff I loathe. ;)

I tried to find alternatives and save money and oh my gosh I was going NUTS. I'm slightly impatient. I finally said, "Screw it! I'm going to buy the cheapest version of everything and my family is going to eat like crap and it's America's fault!" Can you tell I've been in a bad mood lately? Anyway, I walked over to the sandwich meat and started to grab the cheap processed stuff when this beautiful little blonde girl who was probably 9 or 10 steps in front of me to reach for the same package of meat. This little girl was very overweight. Her pretty little face was all scrunched up inside her fat filled cheeks and it had such a profound impact on me. This is also after being at park earlier that day. MOST of the kids on the playground were overweight. Do they even realize it? 

Can they do anything about it?

Anyway, back to the little girl at the grocery store...it was as if I were being slapped in the face with a fresh reminder of why I stand firm in what I believe. I make the tough choices and sacrifice the money I could spend on a new outfit or whatever for the sake of our future....especially my children's future. It matters what I put into their bodies. I could pat myself on the back for being super coupon mom but I won't feel very proud of all the money I saved on food when one day my girls become another statistic. 

Speaking of statistics....

Have you heard about what is happening to the health of our children?!!! It's is sickening and disgusting. 

Please read this article in Idea Fitness Journal 

I have cut and paste it for you. I really hope you read this. It is mind blowing! 

The choices we make today matter tomorrow. 

And just to note....feeding our children processed food doesn't just manifest itself in the disease of obesity. There are a multitude of future health problems associated with processed foods, pesticides, and so on. I hope this article makes you sick to your stomach and compels you to learn more about investing in the future of your children's health. 

If you look at your kid and think to yourself...Well, my kid isn't fat! The issue runs deeper. The point is...the foods we feed our kids impact the quality of their lives long term. Love them in their present AND in their future. 

By the way...this number climbed to 20% in 2010. Not cool!

And PS...for all you healthy moms who know how to pinch pennies, I'd love to hear how you save. 

Hit me up!

Childhood Obesity Doomsday Countdown
by Alexandra Williams, MA

If fitness professionals don’t do something now to help obese children break the cycle, the future may be bleak.


Since 1980, global obesity has more than doubled. Sixty-five percent of the world’s people now live in countries where overweight and obesity cause more deaths than underweight. In 2010, nearly 43 million children below the age of 5 were overweight (WHO 2011). In spite of global awareness and isolated attempts to face this crisis head-on, the fact remains that our kids are fat and getting fatter.


Obesity is preventable. If we don’t help our children find their way out of the downward spiral of obesity, what will their world be like when they grow up?


In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 18% of adolescents aged 12–19, 20% of children aged 6–11 and 10% of children aged 2–5 are obese (CDC 2010). In the United Kingdom, experts predict, 10.1% of boys (8% of teenaged boys) and 8.9% of girls (9.7% of teenaged girls) will be obese by 2015 (Stamatakis et al. 2010). Without intervention, the physical, emotional and financial consequences will be enormous when these children grow up. This article looks at the potential doomsday effect this wave could have if we don’t do something to change it now.


A Serious Problem


According to an article by Julie DeJean Marks, MEd, LCES, for the Obesity Action Coalition, “Adults who have been obese since childhood and developed low self-esteem are more likely to face discrimination in educational settings and the workplace, thus achieving lower educational status. They are also less likely to marry. [Among this population,] a greater decrease in activity, including walking, shopping, attending movies and parties, and increased feelings of sadness and hopelessness are found in adults between the ages of 51 to 69.”


Paul Stricker, MD, FAAP, youth sports medicine specialist at Scripps Clinic in San Diego, shares some sobering points: “This is a perilous generation where [obese] children have multiple risk factors for heart disease and arterial problems similar to [those seen in] middle-aged adults. The longer a child stays overweight into late adolescence, the greater likelihood he or she will stay overweight as an adult. That urges us to intervene early and get to some of the younger kids and make a difference that could literally save their lives.”


Children who are not helped with lifestyle changes could end up medicated or undergoing surgery. At present, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved only one drug for youth—orlistat, for extremely obese children (BMI >2 units above 95th percentile) older than 12; sibutramine was pulled from the U.S. market in 2010 (Rogovik & Goldman 2011). Bariatric surgery is being used more often, but in addition to its high cost ($9,000–$25,000), there are risks of complications and adverse reactions, and long-term effects are not fully known (NHLBI 2007). Would you want your child to undergo either of these treatments?


Financial Consequences


In a March 2011 speech, First Lady Michelle Obama mentioned the economic implications of childhood obesity, citing evidence that “in the 10 cities with the nation’s highest obesity rates, the direct costs . . . are roughly $50 million per 100,000 residents” (National League of Cities 2011).


In an analysis by Wang et al. (2008), an estimate of the progression and cost of the U.S. obesity epidemic showed an increase in childhood obesity rates of 46%–49% between the 1970s and 2004. If that rate persists, more than 80% of today’s children will be overweight or obese adults by 2030 (100% by 2048), costing $861 billion–$957 billion. This would account for 16%–18% of total U.S. healthcare costs.


A 2009 study by the CDC and the nonprofit RTI International put the direct and indirect costs of obesity (adults and children) as high as $147 billion annually between 1998 and 2006 (RTI International 2009). Another study (Finkelstein et al. 2009) concluded that hospitalization costs related to childhood obesity climbed from $126 million in 2001 to $238 million in 2005. At the time, this accounted for 9.1% of all annual medical spending, compared with 6.5% in 1998! These staggering increases in expenditures and percent of medical spending fall in line with projections made by Wang and colleagues.


Medical expenses aside, the indirect costs of obesity are also discouraging. A 2010 Lifestyles Statistics study compiled by the NHS [National Health Service] Information Centre in the U.K. notes that only 1 in 5 children aged 5–15 consumed the recommended “5-a-day” servings of fruit and vegetables in 2008. This corresponded to a drop in produce purchases. For example, between 2007 and 2008, fresh-fruit purchases fell by 7.7% and green-vegetable purchases by 9.6% (NHS Information Centre 2010). Although this might be good financial news for processed-food manufacturers, it does not bode well for farmers and their suppliers and customers.


Prediction: By 2035 the U.S. economy will be literally weighed down with healthcare costs for a generation that should be healthy, vibrant and productive.


Physical Consequences


Metabolic syndrome—elevated blood pressure and insulin levels, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels occurring together—has become a common term in recent years. This cluster of conditions increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes (Mayo Clinic 2009) and is strongly correlated with obesity. The syndrome was formerly associated with adults, but pediatric metabolic syndrome is now routinely diagnosed, although with less specific criteria (Jessup & Harrell 2005).


“Diabetes is a complication of obesity, and was basically unheard of in children years ago,” says Stricker. “It used to be called ‘adult-onset’ diabetes, a name that had to be changed to ‘type 2’ diabetes because now it is showing up frequently in overweight children.”


The risk of cancer also increases, while mobility and the ability to perform activities of daily living decrease (DeJean Marks 2011). Obstructive sleep apnea also occurs in children and adolescents who are severely obese (BMI >99th percentile) (NHLBI 2007).


Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease—“accumulation of fat in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol” (Mayo Clinic 2011)—is another concern. At its most severe, it can progress to liver failure. In a 2008 study, Dâmaso et al. determined that visceral adiposity is the major risk factor for pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This study of 181 obese adolescents found that 45.3% had the disease. In plain words, more children are going to die from more obesity as a result of more obesity-related diseases!


Brett Klika, director of athletics at Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, specializes in working with children. “From a biomechanical standpoint, as trainers we see many chronic-pain maladies due to inactivity. After 8th grade, about 70%–80% of kids drop out of sports altogether. That leaves quite a few kids doing nearly nothing starting at age 14 and earlier. When these kids become adults, they may be so far below [the threshold of physical competency,] that we may need to reteach them skills like walking. Physical education has been nearly abandoned in our current education system because technology, not physical skill, drives American industry. Unfortunately, we are falling behind on physical competency because of this reprioritization of resources. If the body is not well, the brain cannot do its job.”


Prediction: In 10–20 years, more young adults will be unable to perform basic tasks and skills owing to extremely poor health and function.


Emotional Consequences


In 2007, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2007) released a report identifying priorities for future research on childhood obesity prevention and treatment. The panel of experts behind the report emphasized that the emotional consequences of obesity are different for children and adults. “Differences in the treatment of obesity in youth compared to adults pertain to special circumstances in physiological factors, psychosocial factors and environmental influences,” according to the authors. They identified these psychosocial factors affecting children:
cognitive development
motivating factors
body image
short-term attention span
risk-taking behaviors
lack of concern about health


All of these have frightening implications. Impaired children who feel bad can’t function properly and don’t take care of themselves.


Although there is a lot of literature on low self-esteem, anxiety, isolation and depression, these states are not triggered entirely by self-perception or internal beliefs; external factors—such as bullying in the form of teasing, name-calling and even physical harm—have damaging effects. Also, obese youth are often the subject of rumors, lies and rejection, with drastic results such as eating disorders or suicidal thoughts (DeJean Marks 2011).


The epidemic of suicide due to bullying even has its own term, bullycide, and overweight children are at particular risk. In a 2010 survey of overweight sixth graders, 34% (per teacher report), 45% (per mother report) and 25% (per self-report) of children experienced daily teasing, bullying or rejection specifically related to their size (Lumeng et al. 2010).


Less invasive, but with the same insidious results, are parental attitudes. According to the National Institute of Medicine (2011), “Many parents do not understand the consequences of excess weight in infants and young children or are not concerned about early excess weight or obesity.” If parents don’t consider their children’s obesity an important issue, how can the kids themselves be expected to place any value on a healthy weight?


Klika believes in educating parents. “We need to communicate the importance of individual accountability in the home. It is dangerous to blame the problem on some institution. If we want active kids, parents need to set an example.”


Prediction: If nothing is done to address the emotional consequences of childhood obesity, by 2040 there could be a surge in depression, social isolation and rejection, suicide, personality disorders and other mental illnesses.


The Times They Are Changing?


Whatever we, as fitness professionals, are doing now, it isn’t working. Of course, if we’re helping kids become active, we need to keep doing that. But we must either do something more or do something different if we are to turn this burning zeppelin around.


1. Reach Children by Educating Parents. Kids themselves don’t have much power, so we need to work via adults. The 2010 Lifestyles Statistics study states, “Among boys aged 2–10, more met the physical activity recommendations for children if their parents did so for adults. Among girls, the activity levels of parents made relatively little difference to the proportion meeting recommendations, but those who had parents with low activity levels were considerably more likely to be in the low activity category themselves” (NHS Information Centre 2010).


Stricker believes that “it’s a family thing; and having both parents overweight increases the risk a child is overweight much more than if just one parent is overweight. Approaching the family to attack the issue together can be a much more supportive environment for change.”


2. Work Systemically. Noted in the NSW [New South Wales, Australia]Government Plan for Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Children, Young People & Their Families 2009–2011 is the need for working systemically: “Decisions regarding where to invest time and resources in seeking to address overweight and obesity can be challenging. Children have limited direct control over the environment in which they live, and decisions concerning food availability and opportunities for activity are mostly controlled by parents and caregivers. A family- or settings-based (e.g., childcare, school) focus for interventions is an appropriate avenue for influencing [behavior] and improving outcomes” (NSW Department of Health 2009).


Turning this information into action may mean offering a whole range of family-friendly classes or sessions, marketing creatively (i.e., working with schools and businesses to offer prizes to families that exercise together) and perhaps working with employers to offer incentives and lunches during weekend on-campus “fitness days.” Once the financial advantages of hiring fitness professionals become clear, employers who want to save money on healthcare costs and absenteeism should feel motivated to pay for the services of these professionals.


3. Change Beliefs About Exercise. In addition to becoming more systemic, we need to change beliefs about the “punitive” nature of exercise. The best place to start is probably with language, rather than using the one-by-one experiential approach that is common now. A simple example of language that can be changed is the word workout. If anything, it should be a playout or simply play.


Eleni Kehagiaras, owner of Get Fit Training in Portland, Oregon, is particular about wording and strives to create a culture that embraces good health: “Parents need to keep it short and simple; for example, [they should tell their children] that strong foods make strong bodies and weak foods make weak bodies.” Kids want strong bodies, and they’ll ask for more information if they’d like to have it. Save the lecture about fats, proteins and carbohydrates for parents or much older children.


Kehagiaras also suggests asking parents to do their food and exercise decision-making out loud so that children clearly understand how choices are made. Besides helping kids see how their caregiver adults make choices, this demonstrates that delayed gratification has its benefits. Another benefit? Adults may improve their own habits and behaviors once they’re articulated and recognized.


Kids Need Our Help


The obesity action plan developed in New South Wales suggests steps to reverse the childhood obesity trend. With predictions based on historical trends, the plan projects that by 2016—unless action is taken—35% of boys and 31.7% of girls in New South Wales will be overweight or obese. To reverse this “excess energy balance” lifestyle, the plan prioritizes action on five fronts:
community information
healthy food
active lifestyles
sport and recreation infrastructure
prevention and early intervention services


The action plan recommends increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and moderate to vigorous physical activity (includes walking and incidental activity) and decreasing consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods; sugar-sweetened beverages; and “sedentary small-screen behaviors.”


Fitness professionals are uniquely positioned to impact almost all, if not all, of the five action priorities, especially given the links that fitness pros have to parents, children, the medical community, schools and food specialists. For example, fitness professionals who work with pregnant women can share literature showing that babies of mothers who breastfed are at lower risk for obesity—and that mothers who maintain a healthy diet and weight gain during pregnancy are also at lower risk. Another example could be providing age-appropriate ideas to parents for activities they could do instead of sitting (at the table, video monitor, television).


In other words, while staying within scope of practice, it has become incumbent on the fitness industry to provide clients far more than “just” exercise; we must provide holistic help that considers all factors related to obesity.


Younger parents (and even more so, their kids) no longer know how to play. Structured, organized sports are ubiquitous, but free play is gradually disappearing. Who remembers pickle, kick-the-can, street hockey, red rover and so on? More important, who still sees anyone playing these types of games?


Recognizing that kids like to play, and that play is exercise, Carrie Ekins, MA, of Kutzenhausen, Germany, is the creator and founder of Kids Beats and Academic Beats, a fitness and academic program that uses stability balls, drumsticks and other props to get kids moving and learning. Besides creating fun ways to move, Ekins appeals to children by allowing them to contribute ideas and choose music. She also uses garbage cans, plastic buckets and all manner of unusual and noisy items that children enjoy.


Get Our Children Moving!


More than ever, when it comes to kids’ health, it is time to think creatively, holistically, systemically and globally. Be involved in helping children live active, well-nourished lives—and help turn the tide of obesity.