Obesity in America is on the rise. Many adults struggle with being overweight and our increasingly sentient lifestyles are beginning to affect the health and activity levels of our children. As our kids spend more time in front of the television and with their gaming systems, they become less active.
Developed by biochemist Dr. Barry Sears, the basic premise of the Zone Diet is to balance the food you eat into a 40:30:30 ratio. The recommended proportions are 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat. To follow this diet, the main tools you need are your eyes and your hand. You should imagine your plate as divided into three portions, and fill one-third with lean protein and the other two-thirds with good carbs. Each serving should be no bigger than the palm of your hand.
According to this diet, good carbs come from colorful fruits and vegetables, while foods like bread, pasta, and other grains should be limited or avoided. The eating schedule is fairly strict for this diet, breaking the day down into three meals and two snacks. The first meal needs to be within an hour of waking, you should never go more than five hours without eating, and should have a snack before bedtime.
If you are worried about your child's weight do not immediately set them up on a strict diet. For starters, that is incredibly unhealthy for children, and you may be doing more harm because your child may not actually be overweight. Take some time to learn about what the general health guidelines are for children. Give them appropriate serving sizes and feed them healthy, nutritious food, but don't restrict what they can eat.
Have a conversation with your child's doctor if you are very concerned. Remember that many children carry their baby weight well into their older childhood years, and some children put on weight right before a growth spurt. While an adult may be able to do a fad diet or get weight loss surgery in Mexico, a child's body is growing and changing, so making drastic changes can be incredibly harmful to their ability to grow.
As you work to understand what 'healthy' is for your child, begin to introduce them to activities that get them up and moving. Pay attention to which ones they enjoy and encourage them in those pursuits. If needed, put a limit on the amount of sentient entertainment they pursue. Get them out in the sun and participating in sports, or games, or just the simple pleasures of biking or swimming.
Join your children as you encourage them to be more active. Let your children choose what activities you do with them, and help them learn that being active is fun. Once they reach the appropriate age, encourage them to participate in organized sports or find some kind of active physical pursuit they can do on a daily basis.
There has been very little research done to substantiate Dr. Sears' claims, and many healthcare providers refrain from recommending this diet to their patients based on that fact alone. However, it seems to be safe provided there are no other underlying diseases or dietary needs.
Despite the fact that it causes dieters to fall short of the grain recommendations found in the Food Guide Pyramid, consumption of nutrients like fiber, potassium, and calcium result in a healthy, safe diet.
Developed by biochemist Dr. Barry Sears, the basic premise of the Zone Diet is to balance the food you eat into a 40:30:30 ratio. The recommended proportions are 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat. To follow this diet, the main tools you need are your eyes and your hand. You should imagine your plate as divided into three portions, and fill one-third with lean protein and the other two-thirds with good carbs. Each serving should be no bigger than the palm of your hand.
According to this diet, good carbs come from colorful fruits and vegetables, while foods like bread, pasta, and other grains should be limited or avoided. The eating schedule is fairly strict for this diet, breaking the day down into three meals and two snacks. The first meal needs to be within an hour of waking, you should never go more than five hours without eating, and should have a snack before bedtime.
If you are worried about your child's weight do not immediately set them up on a strict diet. For starters, that is incredibly unhealthy for children, and you may be doing more harm because your child may not actually be overweight. Take some time to learn about what the general health guidelines are for children. Give them appropriate serving sizes and feed them healthy, nutritious food, but don't restrict what they can eat.
Have a conversation with your child's doctor if you are very concerned. Remember that many children carry their baby weight well into their older childhood years, and some children put on weight right before a growth spurt. While an adult may be able to do a fad diet or get weight loss surgery in Mexico, a child's body is growing and changing, so making drastic changes can be incredibly harmful to their ability to grow.
As you work to understand what 'healthy' is for your child, begin to introduce them to activities that get them up and moving. Pay attention to which ones they enjoy and encourage them in those pursuits. If needed, put a limit on the amount of sentient entertainment they pursue. Get them out in the sun and participating in sports, or games, or just the simple pleasures of biking or swimming.
Join your children as you encourage them to be more active. Let your children choose what activities you do with them, and help them learn that being active is fun. Once they reach the appropriate age, encourage them to participate in organized sports or find some kind of active physical pursuit they can do on a daily basis.
There has been very little research done to substantiate Dr. Sears' claims, and many healthcare providers refrain from recommending this diet to their patients based on that fact alone. However, it seems to be safe provided there are no other underlying diseases or dietary needs.
Despite the fact that it causes dieters to fall short of the grain recommendations found in the Food Guide Pyramid, consumption of nutrients like fiber, potassium, and calcium result in a healthy, safe diet.
About the Author:
Obesity Free is a weight loss clinic in Mexico that specializes in gastric band and gastric sleeve surgeries.
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