March 5, 2010

Heather, working hard on her Handstand Push-Ups!

WOD

“Diane”

21-15-9 reps of:
225/155 pound Deadlift
Handstand push-ups

Future CrossFit Kid!

CrossFit Kids today at 3:30!

“One-half of life is luck; the other half is discipline — and that’s the important half, for without discipline you wouldn’t know what to do with luck.”
Carl Zuckmeyer

Link Between Obesity in Mothers & Their Children

Overview

According to the American Obesity Association, pediatricians are seeing more children with obesity-related diseases like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and asthma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that obesity is a serious issue, increasing from 5 to 12.4 percent in children ages 2 to 5 years old, and from 6.5 to 17 percent in children ages 6 to 11 in surveys taken from the 1970s to 2003. Some contributing factors in overweight children include demographic factors, formula feeding as an infant, diabetes during pregnancy, parenting style, and food choices. Parental obesity is also a factor in children becoming overweight, especially when the mother is obese.

Pregnancy

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with increased birth weight and increases the chances of a child being overweight as an adult, according to the American Obesity Association. Obese mothers are more likely to have conditions or diseases related to weight like Type 2 diabetes which also leads to an increased birth weight and children becoming obese themselves later in life.

Eating Habbits

Obese mothers are more likely to eat diets high in sugar and fat and eat less fresh fruit and vegetables, contributing to their obesity. In turn, the children of obese mothers are not eating healthy meals and are more likely to follow in the footsteps of their mother by becoming overweight.

Exercise

Mothers who exercise during pregnancy and continue a healthy lifestyle after giving birth are more likely to have normal weight babies. Obese mothers who do not exercise and do not eat a healthy diet put their children at risk for being overweight, as children look to their parents as role models. Inactivity promotes obesity in mothers who then pass this habit on to their children.

Genetics

Children of obese parents are at increased risk for becoming obese and inherit factors such as gene mutations in which children are more likely to become overweight, according to the American Obesity Association. Genetics may play a role in obesity in children, but it is not such a significant factor and should not be blamed if a child of an obese mother becomes overweight.

Environment

Children living in an environment in which one or both parents are obese puts children at greater risk for being overweight themselves, according to a 2004 article written in the Standford University News. Parental obesity may be a reflection of the family environment that promotes overeating and lack of exercise or physical activity within the household. If a child comes from a family who eats unhealthy foods, does not exercise, or promotes a unhealthy lifestyle in general, the child is more likely to become overweight.

Article by William Peterman for livestrong.com