Is it OK to eat sugary foods every once in a while? Of course! It’s important to treat yourself! The difference now will be that you can actually enjoy it for what it is instead of using it to deal with your emotions. Now maybe you will be able to see if you are eating a whole bag of potato chips because you are bored or eating a piece of chocolate because you appreciate the taste…because it’s delicious!

A lot of focus is placed on what a person eats and how they eat it (Do they eat a lot at one time or maybe only a little?). Still, it’s just as important to understand why we eat certain foods and why we choose certain eating behaviors because this can directly affect our self-esteem and emotional behavior. It can also affect how we perform on tests and homework and even how we interact with our peers

I was 13 years old when I started developing unhealthy eating habits due to stress associated with school, trying to fit-in and family problems. I didn’t know how important practicing healthy eating habits were until it was almost too late.

Set Goals Make it your goal to try numerous types of exercises with your family this summer. You should not be alone in this journey. Encourage the ones you love to participate with you! Here are some ideas: Dance the Day Away It’s time for a dance party! If you are feeling tired or lazy, music and dancing can be serious mood boosters. Turn on your favorite tunes and bust a move with your friends. Take turns giving each other the spotlight and cheer for each other! If you are interested in taking dance lessons, you can find beginner classes in your community and try all different kinds. Whether it is hip hop, jazz, tap or ballroom, dance can be an awesome form of exercise (that doesn’t always feel like exercise). Play Outside There are so many options for outdoor play and many are forgotten because of video games, computer games and other forms of technology. Play tag, jump on the trampoline, or take turns jumping over the sprinkler. One of my favorite activities as a kid was setting up an obstacle course using items such as jump ropes, cones and the trees in your yard as landmarks! Try Different Fitness Classes Many gyms have programs for kids in the summer. Take the time to try new things! If structured sports, like volleyball and basketball, aren’t your favorite, try a fitness class at the gym such as kickboxing, cardio dance, kids’ yoga or Pilates.

“I wish I started exercising when I was younger.” In my opinion, as a child, you have a great advantage over adults because you are in a position to develop and continue healthy habits through adulthood. You are able to experiment with all types of exercise and hopefully find your niche.

Living a healthy lifestyle can be challenging at times, but surrounding yourself with people who have similar goals as you can be a huge help. Talk with your family members about their health, and encourage them to increase their physical activity with you!

As of yet, little research has examined cyber-bullying specifically toward children affected by obesity. What is known is that higher BMI is associated with involvement in more “traditional” forms of bullying, which is related to a higher likelihood of cyber-bullying. Given the high rates of youth who report witnessing and experiencing weight-based teasing, it is likely that many children affected by obesity are victims of cyber-bullying.

The consequences of weight-based teasing and bullying are numerous and can be severe. Overweight youth who are teased and bullied are vulnerable to social, psychological, emotional and physical health impairments. Examples include: Increased risk of depression and anxiety Negative body image Suicidal thoughts Avoiding gym class Skipping school Academic impairment Unhealthy weight control Binge-eating behaviors Reduced physical activity Increased body mass index (BMI)

Body weight is now one of the most common reasons youth are bullied, however, victimization of overweight youth continues to be overlooked in media, research and policy discussions. According to a recent survey, 41 percent of high school students perceived body weight as the primary reason for teasing and bullying (followed by 38 percent for sexual orientation)

“Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents."

, childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking.

Among children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. There are also psychological effects: Obese children are more prone to low self-esteem, negative body image and depression.

Portion sizes have also exploded- they are now two to five times bigger than they were in years past. Beverage portions have grown as well- in the mid-1970s, the average sugar-sweetened beverage was 13.6 ounces compared totoday, kids think nothing of drinking 20 ounces of sugar-sweetened beverages at a time.

Thirty years ago, kids ate just one snack a day, whereas now they are trending toward three snacks, resulting in an additional 200 calories a day. And one in five school-age children has up to six snacks a day.

Today, children experience a very different lifestyle. Walks to and from school have been replaced by car and bus rides. Gym class and after-school sports have been cut; afternoons are now spent with TV, video games, and the internet. Parents are busier than ever and families eat fewer home-cooked meals. Snacking between meals is now commonplace.

There is plenty of blame to go around: For the planners who have created un-walkable communities, to the media scare-mongering that has us all terrified of abduction, to the litigious attitude that prevents adventurous play, to the junk food marketers, to the public policy juggernaut that allows foods like french fries to be served in lunch rooms.

The case is part of a new trend in child expert circles regarding childhood obesity. Earlier this year, two Harvard-affiliated child obesity experts wrote an attention-getting commentary in the Journal of American Medical Association suggesting that parents should be held more accountable.

An 8-year-old Cleveland boy has just become the poster-child for a sad new nadir in the childhood obesity epidemic. The third grader, who weighs more than 200 pounds, was removed from his mother’s custody because of what officials have deemed medical neglect.

“I haven’t spoken to one expert about this issue who has said the solution is having government tell us what we can do,” she said, adding, “There is a place in this life for cookies and ice cream and burgers and fries, that is a part of childhood. This is just about balance, about really small changes that can add up, like walking to school when you can, replacing soda with water or skim milk, trimming portions just a little.”

Childhood obesity rates in the United States have tripled over the past three decades, and today nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. Health experts blame obesity for a variety of medical conditions, among them heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and asthma.

The American Academy of Pediatrics called on doctors to measure body mass index, an indicator of obesity, in children. Professional athletes from 12 leagues, including football and baseball, have volunteered to promote the message of “60 Minutes of Play a Day” through public service announcements; media companies including the Walt Disney Company and NBC have pledged to broadcast them.

The “Let’s Move” campaign, nearly a year in the making, is Mrs. Obama’s official debut in a high-profile policy role, and she has already lined up an array of partners in government, medicine, science, business, education and athletics who are pledging to work together to get children off their couches and consuming fresher, healthier food

Obesity prevalence was the highest among children in families with an income-to-poverty ratio of 100% or less (household income that is at or below the poverty threshold), followed by those in families with an income-to-poverty ratio of 101%–130%, and then found to be lower in children in families with an income-to-poverty ratio of 131% or larger (greater household income).

In 2011-2012, 8.4% of 2- to 5-year-olds had obesity compared with 17.7% of 6- to 11-year-olds and 20.5% of 12- to 19-year-olds.Childhood obesity is also more common among certain racial and ethnic groups.

Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States. Despite recent declines in the prevalence among preschool-aged children, obesity among children is still too high. For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years, the prevalence of obesity has remained fairly stable at about 17% and affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents for the past decade.  [Read abstract Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)]

A cheeseburger happy meal with fries and a Sprite at McDonalds has 640 calories and 24 grams of fat. This is over half of the total calories many children should be eating in a day

But new government data show schools in four more states have since put aside concerns and resumed buying the controversial product.

But new government data show schools in four more states have since put aside concerns and resumed buying the controversial product.

'Pink slime'