There’s been a lot of attention lately drawn to the topic of obesity. For one, Michele Obama has made the fight against this condition her signature issue. Second, Jamie Oliver has launched his new campaign and television show, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. Maybe it takes a first lady and celebrity chef to highlight a severely overlooked health problem in our country, but at least it gets us thinking (and hopefully acting!).

Last year, a record 63.1% of adults in the U.S. were either overweight or obese. And according to KidsHealth.org, the percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese. In Jamie Oliver’s TED award acceptance speech (well worth the watch), he claims that 10% of America’s healthcare dollars go towards fighting obesity. That’s a big price to pay for exercising too little and eating too much.

Outreach to kids is imperative, but sometimes we parents need a kick in the fanny, too. According to the CDC, 60 percent, or well over half, of Americans are not regularly active. I’m throwing out a few suggestions that have worked for me, ones geared towards folks who juggle multiple responsibilities like working, housecleaning, cooking, and taking care of kids and dogs. Hopefully, one or two of them will work for you, too. After all, ittle steps can go a long way in creating a fit, happy and healthy life for parents and kids.

1. 1. Take a hike – One of my favorite things about Boise is the endless collection of trails in my back yard. But even towns without hills have nature trails and other relaxing outdoor escapes. Austin has the Town Lake Hike, Nashville has Percy Warner Park, Seattle has Discovery Park (and others), Boston has the Charles River and LA has miles of trails along the beach.I’m sure your city has something scenic, too. And if one of your wee ones haven’t learned to walk yet, child carriers like the one pictured below can help out.

My little guy, Luke, didn’t take to this carrier as well as the Baby Bjorn, primarily because he was ready to hike as soon as he could walk; but many of my friends have had great success with them.

1. 2. Walk to school – I realize this isn’t a practical suggestion for everyone. My friend Cam has to drive a minimum of 15 minutes to take her children to pre-school in Charlotte. Walking is not going to be an option for her. But if your school is a mile away or less, you only have the weather to blame (which I will use on many occasions!). I have tried walking the dogs to the YMCA at the end of the day to “pick up Luke.” He isn’t always thrilled with the mile jaunt home, but I try to make the experience more fun by playing hide and seek with the big trees in our neighborhood or dancing to the Black Eyed Peas over the iPhone. Passersby might think we’re nuts, but we’re almost always having a good time.

1. 3. Bike to dinner, movies, and grocery stores – Maybe your city isn’t the best for cycling; but with the green movement on the rise, hopefully it will be soon. Google just announced that their maps feature will include bike routes for 150 U.S. cities, so this may help bring about more designated bike lanes.  Not only do kids enjoy biking, but it’s a great way for parents to get some exercise, too. If your children aren’t old enough for biking independently, there are other toys and gadgets to help you out.  We had Luke in a Burley as soon as it was humanly possible, and I still think it’s an amazing invention:

When he got too old to sit still inside the bike trailer, we sat him behind (usually) dad on one of these:

I was somewhat challenged to keep my balance with this trailer attached to my bike, especially with a child who likes to lean left and right for the trill of it; but Rob, my husband, could actually drag Luke up mountain bike trails using one of these things. The real challenge was going down!

1. 4. Visit a city park – The total area covered by urban parkland in the United States exceeds one million acres, so the least we can do is use them! While the kids climb, swing, slide and scream, parents can read a book or even swing a racket if tennis courts are nearby.

1. 5. Participate in sports – Though soccer is the fastest growing team sport for girls and boys in America, some children might want to utilize their hands (Luke, of course, uses his while playing soccer despite the rules). There are so many more choices for kids today than there were when I was little, including baseball, swimming, ballet, snow skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking, basketball and more. If money is an issue, look for city-sponsored lessons and events. Last summer, Luke took a month of tennis lessons for next to nothing. The YMCA also has a number of wonderful, cost-effective sport camps during the summer.

1. 6. Keep it fun – Would you want to play basketball if you had no hand/eye coordination? Or be a gymnast if you had no balance? Why should children be any different? If your kids find a sport too challenging or frustrating, they’ll be far less motivated to keep at it. As you discover your kid’s athletic strengths and weaknesses, try to find activities which align with their abilities and interests.

1. 7. Plant seeds – Last year, Luke helped me plant our garden, pick weeds and select the ripe vegetables. Not only did he burn some energy in the process, but he ate more vegetables, too. Outdoor chores – like raking leaves and mowing the lawn – may not be fun after adolescence hits, but take advantage of the early years when it’s still cool to help mom and dad.

1. 8. Limit TV time – O.k. You may be yawning at this one, and saying, “Like I don’t already know this?” But recent research has revealed a correlation between TV viewing and blood pressure spikes. In fact, watching TV has more negative health effects than other sedentary activities, because kids tend to eat junk food while they are watching. Restrict it altogether if you wish, but moderation can go a long way in developing good habits for the long haul.

1. 9. Clean up – Not only do home chores help Mom, but it keeps little ones busy, too. Luke is somewhat obsessed with the vacuum cleaner; so by all means, when he asks to help, I let him. We have even started using a star chart to reward him for some of his household chores, and it’s working like a charm.

1. 10. Set a good example – I pushed Luke many a mile in one of these little babies. In fact, Rob got a little choked up when he grew out of it.

No need to fret!  If you have more than one child, there’s a jogger for you, too. I’ve seen plenty of people (and women, too) jogging with one of these.

There are triple ones, too, in case you were interested. And the good news is you only have to run half as long to burn as many calories as running without one at all!

Parents influence their children’s behavior in a number of ways, from words they speak to beverages they drink.** To this day, almost every time I leave for a run, Luke wants to join me. As soon as he’s old enough, I’m sure he will (and he’ll kick my butt when he does!).

So in the words of Michele Obama, let’s move! And raise a healthier generation of children.

Sources:

*The Trust for Public Land

**Livestrong.com and msnbc

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