August 9, 2024 • 25 mins
Are we condemning our children to shorter, unhealthier lives than any previous generation?
In this explosive episode of the 2% Solution, we tackle the shocking rise in childhood obesity and its catastrophic consequences. Brace yourself for jaw-dropping statistics that paint a grim picture.
We delve into the devastating health risks, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and reveal the staggering economic toll on our healthcare systems. The episode also highlights the glaring disparities among ethnic groups, driving home the urgent need for drastic change to secure a healthier future for our kids.
Parents, it's time to face the truth: we are the frontline warriors in this battle against childhood obesity. This episode doesn't just outline the problem—it calls you to action.
Tune in for this fiery discussion and take the first bold step towards a healthier, more vibrant future for the next generation.
Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Canadian Obesity Network (CON)
- Obesity Canada
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
- Healthy Children (AAP)
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Let's Move!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dai Manuel (00:08):
Hey there, 2% Collective Warriors, welcome
back to another episode of the2% Solution.
I'm your host, diamond Well,and today we're diving headfirst
into a topic growing fasterthan my love for kale smoothies
childhood obesity.
It seems almost like anoxymoron to have the two words
childhood and obesity Seemsalmost like an oxymoron to have
the two words childhood andobesity in the same sentence,
(00:31):
let alone giving context to oneanother.
I'm someone that's grown up asan obese teenager.
It's a sensitive topic formyself, something that I
empathize a great deal with.
But also I'm seeing some trendsand I think we're all seeing
them, but whether we're takingnote of them, that's something
(00:53):
completely different, but it'ssomething that's important and I
want to give a whole episode tothis topic.
So today we're going to talkabout childhood obesity.
We're going to talk about someof these issues and some of the
ideas of where it starts, butalso where it can end, or at
least start to make some changes, because you know this issue,
it is expanding and it's notslowing down anytime soon.
(01:18):
We're going to dig into someeye-popping statistics that you
may not be aware of, swap somepersonal stories and tackle
strategies to fight this problemhead-on.
So buckle up, because it's timeto get raw and real.
First, let's zoom out andconfront the harsh truth.
A recent study published inNature exposed the alarming rise
(01:39):
in childhood obesity ratesglobally.
The numbers aren't juststaggering, they're, without you
know damn right catastrophic.
Over 340 million children andadolescents aged 5 to 17 were
overweight or obese in 2016.
(02:00):
And this trend is acceleratingfaster than a viral TikTok
challenge.
Let that sink in.
340 million children, that'snearly the entire population of
the United States of America.
This isn't just about kidscarrying a little extra weight.
This is a full-blown healthcrisis that demands immediate
(02:24):
action, because if we stay onthis path, by 2035, obesity
rates, including childhoodobesity, are predicted to
skyrocket.
I mean, I think that's anunderstatement.
The World Obesity Federationestimates that if we don't
change course, the globalprevalence of obesity could hit
a jaw-dropping 1 billion peopleby as early as 2030.
(02:46):
I think that's five years fromnow, with a significant portion
being children and adolescents.
This isn't just a stat, it's aticking time bomb.
The economic impact alone ismind-blowing, with
obesity-related healthcare costsexpected to exceed trillions of
dollars annually.
We have to face the facts we'refailing our kids.
(03:10):
Every screen time binge, everyfast food meal, every skipped
workout contributes to a futurewhere our children will face
unprecedented health challenges.
The time for politeconversation and rhetoric is
over.
We need a revolution in how wereproach nutrition, exercise and
(03:32):
overall health, or we'll face afuture where obesity is the
normal, not the exception.
Some of the most startling statsand info and I want to share
these more so to sound the alarm, so to speak, but also just to
give you some ideas as what isactually happening in the world,
(03:58):
and particularly here in Canada, let alone North America
Prevalence in Canada, let aloneNorth America Prevalence in
Canada.
According to Stats Canada,approximately 30% of Canadian
children and youth aged 5 to 17were overweight or obese in 2017
.
Now, since the pandemic, I knowthose numbers have increased,
(04:19):
but there's not a lot of auditedstatistics or data out there at
this moment, but I think it'ssafe to say the number has gone
up.
Number two rapid increase.
Similar to global trends,childhood obesity rates in
Canada have nearly tripled overthe past few decades.
In the late seventies, about 5%of Canadian children were obese
, compared to around 13 to 15%in recent years.
(04:41):
That's crazy, crazy, right.
We're talking about likeliterally three X'd in as little
as one person's lifetime Healthrisks.
The Canadian Obesity Networknotes that obese children in
Canada face a higher risk ofdeveloping type 2 diabetes, with
over 20% of new diabetes casesin children being type 2.
(05:02):
There's also an economic burden.
Public Health Agency of Canadaestimates that childhood obesity
costs the Canadian health caresystem approximately $2 billion
annually in direct healthexpenses, including
hospitalizations and treatments.
5.
Shorten Lifespan.
Research from the CanadianMedical Association Journal
(05:24):
suggests that rising rates ofobesity may lead to a shorter
lifespan for today's childrencompared to their parents, due
to obesity-related health issues.
Do you understand thesignificance of that?
We're basically saying the kidsof this generation may not live
as long as the generations oftheir parents and even their
grandparents, as the generationsof their parents and even their
(05:48):
grandparents.
All this is just mind-boggling,considering we are in the most
advanced day and age our specieshas ever seen scientifically,
the breakthroughs that we seehappening daily.
It's remarkable what we're ableto cure and yet we seem to have
a big honking problem pardonthe pun with this obesity issue,
and our kids may not live aslong or thrive as long we don't
(06:13):
do something about it Now.
There's also a mental healthimpact.
Studies have shown that obesechildren in Canada are 25% more
likely to suffer from mentalhealth issues such as depression
and anxiety, compared to thepeers with a healthy weight.
Number seven cardiovascularrisk the Heart and Stroke
Foundation of Canada reportsthat obese children are more
likely to have high bloodpressure and high cholesterol,
(06:34):
which are significant riskfactors for cardiovascular
diseases.
And number eight disparitiesObesity rates in Canada are also
higher among certain ethnicgroups, with Indigenous children
and those from lowersocioeconomic backgrounds
experiencing higher rates ofobesity.
This points some fingers tosome governmental agencies that
(06:55):
need to step it up.
Now we need to also apply thepressure.
That's where our votes and taxdollars and lobbying comes into
play.
You know, if we just want tosit around and say, yeah, that's
a good idea, someone should dosomething about that, and we're
not want to sit around and say,yeah, that's a good idea,
someone should do somethingabout that, and we're not
willing to step up and dosomething ourselves, well, how's
the change going to do?
We've got to change thenarrative for our kids.
(07:18):
It's time to stop makingexcuses and start making changes
.
For every fast food mealswapped for a nutritious one,
every screen time hour replacedwith physical activity, and
every positive health choice wemodel for our children, we're
taking a step toward reversingthis crisis.
The future of our children'shealth depends on our actions
(07:40):
today.
So this all begets the questionwhy are kids getting getting
fatter?
And I don't like using the wordfatter, it is an f word in my
books, in my house that we sayfluffier, uh, so so why are kids
getting fluffier?
You know, why are kids packingon the pounds?
There's a few culprits ataction.
(08:01):
I'm going to share four that II see and this is both anecdotal
but also been documented, uh,scientifically.
Number one is sedentarylifestyles, which is pretty
straightforward.
I think that's fairly commonsense.
You know, with the rise oftechnology, especially what we
experienced through the pandemic, kids are glued to screens more
than ever.
According to the world healthorganization, children should
(08:24):
have at least one hour of screentime per day, at least when
they say at least.
I thought it was kind of funnywhen they said that, but they're
suggesting that, just based onthe way things work in our
societies, an hour a day is tobe expected.
But the issue lies because manymore are clocking in enough
hours to binge watch an entireseason of cartoons, quite
(08:46):
literally in a single day.
It's quite an imbalance andthis leads to greater inactivity
and excess calorie consumptionwhich isn't being burned off,
and so the weight's got to gosomewhere.
Those calories got to gosomewhere and so they get stored
on as excess weight, and thisleads to all sorts of other
lifestyle complications.
(09:13):
Now number two is poor dietaryhabits fast food, sugary drinks,
processed snacks and, as anepisode in season one, I talked
about ultra processed foods andthe impact it's having globally,
not only on various healthagencies, but just on our bottom
line as far as our waste andour pocketbooks are concerned.
But this has all becomehousehold staples, literally.
Fast food, sugary drinks,processed snacks it's just
(09:35):
regular, normalized householdstuff we find in our fridges and
in our cupboards.
It's the availability of cheap,high calorie, low nutrient
foods.
It's like basically handingkids a one-way ticket to weight
gain central, again, beingmindful and aware of what's
actually in the foods that we'reeating.
(09:55):
This points the finger again toeducation, and maybe we got to
change the way that we packagefoods.
Again, I'm going to leave thatfor another episode, because
that's just a whole nother canof worms.
Now number three lack ofphysical activity.
Schools are cutting back onphysical education.
They're not adding more,they're cutting back, and after
school activities are often moreabout thumb workouts yeah,
(10:17):
video games than actual sweatsessions.
Kids need at least 60 minutesof moderate to vigorous physical
activity daily, but most aren'tgetting them.
Number four is the influence ofparents.
Here's a tough pill to swallow.
Parents play a massive role intheir children's health habits.
(10:38):
When we prioritize convenienceover nutrition and screen time
over physical activity, our kidsare going to follow our suit,
right, they're going to followus.
They're going to do what we'redoing.
So when we prioritize certainthings over our own health and
well-being, what is that sayingto our kids?
(10:59):
It's saying, hey, it's okay ifyou do this too.
Now let's talk about someconsequences.
Childhood obesity isn't justabout carrying extra weight.
It brings a host of severehealth issues which I hinted to
earlier.
That study from Nature pointsout that obese children are at a
higher risk of type 2 diabetes,cardiovascular diseases, but
(11:21):
even mental health issues likedepression and anxiety.
Specifically, the studyhighlights that obese children
are four times more likely todevelop type 2 diabetes and have
a 25% higher risk of developingcardiovascular diseases
compared to their peers thathave a healthier weight.
Additionally, they are 30% morelikely to experience those
(11:42):
mental health issues likedepression and anxiety.
These kids are also more likelyto become obese.
Mental health issues likedepression, anxiety.
These kids are also more likelyto become obese adults, leading
to a lifetime of healthchallenges.
This is a cycle that needs tobe broken, and it starts with us
the parents, the teachers, thementors, the coaches, the
leaders in the community.
(12:02):
Let's address a critical issuethough the mixed messages we, as
parents, might be sending toour kids.
When we spend our free timeshuttling kids to activities but
neglect our health, weindirectly tell them it's okay
to put ourselves last, whilebeing supportive is absolutely
fantastic.
As a parent, it's crucial tomodel healthy behaviors, because
(12:24):
neuroscience has shown us thatwe learn predominantly through
two methods through mentorshipand modeling.
Kids learn by watching us.
They see us opting for fastfood at a convenience or
skipping workouts because we'retoo busy.
They'll likely pick up thesehabits too.
According to the AmericanPsychological Association,
(12:45):
children of parents whoprioritize their health and
well-being are more likely todevelop healthy habits
themselves.
Bonus Hello, that's great.
Specifically, research showsthat children of parents who
engage in regular physicalactivity are 75% more likely to
be active, and those who seetheir parents eating healthy
meals are 50% more likely toadopt similar eating habits.
(13:07):
It's all about balance or, aswe like to say, harmony, Showing
them that taking care ofourselves is just as important
as taking care of them.
So some of you may know orrecall that I was an obese
teenager, started putting on theLBs around nine and got to my
largest just before I hit age 15.
(13:28):
I was definitely rocking thedouble chin, but also a wardrobe
that was mainly consisting ofelastic waistbands, and you
might remember the old parachutepants right, or I'd wear really
huge jeans, you know, andshorts forget about it.
I didn't want people to see mylegs, you know.
I really dealt with a lot oflow self-esteem and
(13:54):
self-conscious awareness and Iremember my parents saying you
know, houston, we have a problem.
Of course, they didn't say itlike that, it's not like my
parents work for NASA oranything but they were eager to
help me find a solution becausethey saw me hurting.
They knew I was in pain and asparents, we never want to see
(14:15):
our kids like that.
But at the end of the day, ithad to get to a place where I
wanted to make a change and Ithink that's an important thing
to know.
We can be supportive for thepeople in our lives that are
struggling with their weight,that are trying to make health
and wellbeing changes, but theyjust are struggling at getting
traction, being consistent, and,as a result, there's a lot of
(14:39):
internal conflict happening forthose individuals.
I can speak from my ownexperience.
Every day you're kickingyourself, you're thinking, geez,
why am I such a failure?
Why can't I do this?
I try, I try and I try andnothing's working.
And that victim mentality feelsvery safe.
It gives us a reason, an excuse, some meaning to why things may
(15:01):
be going our way and we latchonto it.
I know I did.
Things may be going our way andwe latch onto it.
I know I did.
But when we eventually get to aplace where we recognize that
holding onto those old ideas andbeliefs are no longer
propelling us forward In fact,they were holding us back the
whole time but we become veryaware that it's that thinking,
that mindset, if you will, thatbelief system that's causing us
(15:25):
this stalling effect or this twosteps forward, 10 steps
backward feeling and the bestthing that we can do to start
seeing that through and thething that I found worked best
for me seeing this work forthousands of the people that
I've helped with making changeswe started making small,
manageable changes.
(15:45):
Some of the things I did waslike swapping out a lot of my
beloved sugary snacks because,man, I like sugar for healthier
alternatives.
And, as well, I startedsneaking in fun physical
activities into my regularroutine, like cycling, right,
like I love biking.
So to me it wasn't evenexercise, it wasn't working out,
it was just getting out anddoing something that I love.
And I made sure I had my SonyWalkman.
(16:06):
Yeah, I know I'm totally datingmyself.
Some of you are doing the mathnow and you're like, oh, my gosh
, that's gotta be pretty oldthen if he used the Sony Walkman
back then.
And I sure did, and I sure am.
And, uh, I remember having acassette in there.
And, yes, uh, for those of youthat are too young to know what
a cassette is, go Google it, I'mgoing to get into it.
But, um, a cassette tape.
(16:27):
And, uh, I remember I wouldhave on one side of that
cassette, uh, tragically hit theup to here album, and on the
other side I had stone templepilots and, uh, one of their
albums.
And, um, I knew that when Ididn't go for a bike ride.
This is after I got to acertain level of conditioning
and I wanted to challenge myself, going out longer and longer
(16:47):
rides.
I remember I said, okay, well,I'll go till the end of one
album and then when it ends, Iknow I got to turn around and go
home, so it ended up being 90minute rides.
You know it was a 45 minutetape cassette on both sides and
uh, or, or when you would listenon slow play, uh, anyways, I'm
not getting into the technologyor it's not as great as we are
now, I'll tell you that.
(17:07):
But for those that know theplight of the old cassette tape,
yeah, I was really good atgetting a lot out of my tapes
and I just remember making thosebike rides fun.
I got to listen to some greattunes, get outside, and I always
came back feeling better than Iwas before I started my ride.
And that's when I really startedputting two and two together,
(17:28):
realizing that my mental healthwas directly influenced, and
very much in a positive way, assoon as I would do something
physical, something intentional,that would get my heart rate
elevated, bring on a littlesweat, and I call this moving
with intention.
Now, as much as I started doingthat, as well as I started
(17:49):
educating myself and my familyabout nutrition because, let's
face it, we were clueless.
We think that we were eatingwell, but when you start looking
at the food and some of thoseingredients that sneak into our
foods, we start to realizethere's a lot of things working
against us.
So, over time, not only did Ilose the weight whereas I like
to say release the weightbecause I didn't ever want it
(18:11):
coming back I wanted to saybye-bye weight, because you know
, when we lose things, we alwayswant to find it again, don't we
?
I did not want to find myweight again.
I wanted to say bye-bye.
So I released that sucker and Ialso gained a boatload of
confidence in the process.
I went from couch potato toparticipating in sports, most of
them individual sports, because, to be honest, I found it
(18:33):
challenging to get into teamsports and that was more just
where I was at that time.
I was used to either beingpicked last or never being
picked.
So I kind of had a negativerelationship with that, with
team sports, and as such Igravitated to a lot of
individual sports like golf androck climbing and martial arts
and cycling and all sorts ofstuff, and then eventually into
(18:54):
CrossFit as well and all sortsof stuff and then eventually
into CrossFit as well.
And yeah, anyways, one of thebiggest things of going through
all these changes, it allowed meto also become a mentor for
others, especially now as beinga father of young adult children
and lots of young nieces andnephews, but also lots of
clients with lots of kids.
It's wonderful being able tomentor those other parents to
(19:15):
support their children withthriving in the home, because
that's where it all starts.
So, yeah, my transformation,I'm going to say it.
I think it was incredible,because for me it was.
But a lot of us can experiencethese big changes and it all
starts with small, seeminglyinsignificant steps.
So if I can do it, trust me, Iknow you can too, and so can
(19:37):
your kids.
Now, I know this has been aroundabout way and I've talked
about the problem, shared someanecdotes and stories about how
people have overcome these withsome small, very seemingly
doable things.
But why don't we talk a littlebit about solutions to deal with
this growing problem?
Here's some actionablestrategies.
You take what you want of this,but I think you'll agree that
(20:01):
with these four things, and ifwe can get better at doing these
four things, I see childhoodobesity making a huge turnaround
.
Number one healthy eating habits.
Let's talk about getting thosekiddos munching on the good
stuff.
Encourage your little champs togobble up more fruits, veggies,
(20:22):
whole grains, lean proteins.
These foods are like rocketfuel for their growth and their
development.
And let's not limit thosesugary drinks and snacks.
They're the villains in oursuperhero story.
We want to limit those.
The American Academy ofPediatrics has some killer
resources on family nutrition,offering guidelines and tips,
(20:43):
creating balanced meals.
And, trust me, your kids willthank you when you're.
You know.
Well, let's just say this yourkids are going to thank you when
they're not bouncing off thewalls from a sugar and you're
going to thank me too.
Now, number two is physicalactivity.
You know, one thing is work onthose healthy eating habits, but
we want to really focus on howare they moving?
Because kids, we know they needat least 60 minutes of moderate
(21:05):
to vigorous physical activityevery single day to keep those
little bodies fit and healthy.
But why not make it fun?
Dance parties, bike rides butwhy not make it fun?
Dance parties, bike rides andsports are all fantastic ways to
get them moving.
Think tag hiking,hide-and-go-seek, even a game of
who can clean their room thefastest.
Believe me, it actually workswith my kids that they
(21:26):
eventually catch on.
But you can get away with it afew times, I'll tell you that.
But physical activity helpsbuild strong bones and muscles,
improves cardiovascular healthand boosts mood and, who knows,
you might discover you've got afuture Olympian on your hands.
Right Cleaning room for timeThree, two, one go, all right.
Number three education andawareness.
Teach your kids about theimportance of a balanced diet
(21:47):
and regular exercise.
I mean, it's one thing to talkand show, but why not educate so
they understand why?
Why is this so important forthem and what's in it for them
if they can implement some ofthis knowledge that they're
gaining into internalized wisdomthat they can take with them
for the rest of their lives?
What do you think that would belike?
(22:08):
Schools and community programscan be your secret weapon here.
Offering structured lessons onnutrition, health, fitness,
interactive workshops, cookingclasses, physical education
programs can make learning abouthealth super engaging.
Think of it as sneaking veggiesinto their favorite dish.
Learning disguised as funBecause you know education.
(22:32):
I know it's not always fun forour kids, but I think it can be
made to be fun, especially whenthey buy in themselves and
they're there because they wantto be there.
So don't be afraid to have theconversation, to dialogue, to
open up why this is great forthem, but also why is it great
for you?
All right, supportiveenvironment.
(22:53):
Create an environment at homewhere healthy choices are the
easy choices.
Stock your pantry and fridgewith nutritious options like
fresh fruits and veggies, wholegrain products, lean protein
sources.
Lead by example.
Kids are little sponges.
They soak up everything theysee, they hear, so if they catch
you munching on a salad orhitting the gym, they'll be more
(23:15):
likely to follow suit.
Involve the whole family in themeal planning and prep and make
physical activity a regularpart of your routine.
It's like building a fortressof healthy habits, but you got
to build it one brick at a time.
All right, that's it for today'sepisode on Childhood Abuse.
Remember, we can change thisnarrative for our kids, but it
(23:38):
has to start with us.
By prioritizing our health andfitness, we set the best
possible example for ourchildren.
They need to see us makinghealthy choices, staying active
and caring for our bodies.
Imagine the ripple effect if weall started today.
Picture your kids seeing you gofor a morning run, choosing a
(23:58):
salad over a fast food entree ortaking a few minutes to stretch
and breathe these small actionsspeak volumes.
They tell our kids this is howwe care for ourselves.
This is how we live healthy,happy lives.
So let's commit to being thechange we want to see in our
(24:19):
children.
Let's show them that health andfitness are priorities not just
for them, but the whole family.
Let's inspire them with ouractions, not just our words.
If you enjoyed this episode,share with a friend or family
member who might find it helpful, and don't forget to follow us
on social media and leave areview if you love the podcast,
because your feedback andstories are what keep this
(24:40):
community strong and thriving.
Stay strong, stay focused andkeep pushing your limits.
Together, we can create ahealthier future for our kids
and for ourselves.
I'm Diamond Well, and you'vebeen listening to the 2%
Solution.
Let's keep thriving togetherand I'll see you next time.
Hey there, 2% Collective Warriors, welcome
back to another episode of the2% Solution.
I'm your host, diamond Well,and today we're diving headfirst
into a topic growing fasterthan my love for kale smoothies
childhood obesity.
It seems almost like anoxymoron to have the two words
childhood and obesity Seemsalmost like an oxymoron to have
the two words childhood andobesity in the same sentence,
(00:31):
let alone giving context to oneanother.
I'm someone that's grown up asan obese teenager.
It's a sensitive topic formyself, something that I
empathize a great deal with.
But also I'm seeing some trendsand I think we're all seeing
them, but whether we're takingnote of them, that's something
(00:53):
completely different, but it'ssomething that's important and I
want to give a whole episode tothis topic.
So today we're going to talkabout childhood obesity.
We're going to talk about someof these issues and some of the
ideas of where it starts, butalso where it can end, or at
least start to make some changes, because you know this issue,
it is expanding and it's notslowing down anytime soon.
(01:18):
We're going to dig into someeye-popping statistics that you
may not be aware of, swap somepersonal stories and tackle
strategies to fight this problemhead-on.
So buckle up, because it's timeto get raw and real.
First, let's zoom out andconfront the harsh truth.
A recent study published inNature exposed the alarming rise
(01:39):
in childhood obesity ratesglobally.
The numbers aren't juststaggering, they're, without you
know damn right catastrophic.
Over 340 million children andadolescents aged 5 to 17 were
overweight or obese in 2016.
(02:00):
And this trend is acceleratingfaster than a viral TikTok
challenge.
Let that sink in.
340 million children, that'snearly the entire population of
the United States of America.
This isn't just about kidscarrying a little extra weight.
This is a full-blown healthcrisis that demands immediate
(02:24):
action, because if we stay onthis path, by 2035, obesity
rates, including childhoodobesity, are predicted to
skyrocket.
I mean, I think that's anunderstatement.
The World Obesity Federationestimates that if we don't
change course, the globalprevalence of obesity could hit
a jaw-dropping 1 billion peopleby as early as 2030.
(02:46):
I think that's five years fromnow, with a significant portion
being children and adolescents.
This isn't just a stat, it's aticking time bomb.
The economic impact alone ismind-blowing, with
obesity-related healthcare costsexpected to exceed trillions of
dollars annually.
We have to face the facts we'refailing our kids.
(03:10):
Every screen time binge, everyfast food meal, every skipped
workout contributes to a futurewhere our children will face
unprecedented health challenges.
The time for politeconversation and rhetoric is
over.
We need a revolution in how wereproach nutrition, exercise and
(03:32):
overall health, or we'll face afuture where obesity is the
normal, not the exception.
Some of the most startling statsand info and I want to share
these more so to sound the alarm, so to speak, but also just to
give you some ideas as what isactually happening in the world,
(03:58):
and particularly here in Canada, let alone North America
Prevalence in Canada, let aloneNorth America Prevalence in
Canada.
According to Stats Canada,approximately 30% of Canadian
children and youth aged 5 to 17were overweight or obese in 2017
.
Now, since the pandemic, I knowthose numbers have increased,
(04:19):
but there's not a lot of auditedstatistics or data out there at
this moment, but I think it'ssafe to say the number has gone
up.
Number two rapid increase.
Similar to global trends,childhood obesity rates in
Canada have nearly tripled overthe past few decades.
In the late seventies, about 5%of Canadian children were obese
, compared to around 13 to 15%in recent years.
(04:41):
That's crazy, crazy, right.
We're talking about likeliterally three X'd in as little
as one person's lifetime Healthrisks.
The Canadian Obesity Networknotes that obese children in
Canada face a higher risk ofdeveloping type 2 diabetes, with
over 20% of new diabetes casesin children being type 2.
(05:02):
There's also an economic burden.
Public Health Agency of Canadaestimates that childhood obesity
costs the Canadian health caresystem approximately $2 billion
annually in direct healthexpenses, including
hospitalizations and treatments.
5.
Shorten Lifespan.
Research from the CanadianMedical Association Journal
(05:24):
suggests that rising rates ofobesity may lead to a shorter
lifespan for today's childrencompared to their parents, due
to obesity-related health issues.
Do you understand thesignificance of that?
We're basically saying the kidsof this generation may not live
as long as the generations oftheir parents and even their
grandparents, as the generationsof their parents and even their
(05:48):
grandparents.
All this is just mind-boggling,considering we are in the most
advanced day and age our specieshas ever seen scientifically,
the breakthroughs that we seehappening daily.
It's remarkable what we're ableto cure and yet we seem to have
a big honking problem pardonthe pun with this obesity issue,
and our kids may not live aslong or thrive as long we don't
(06:13):
do something about it Now.
There's also a mental healthimpact.
Studies have shown that obesechildren in Canada are 25% more
likely to suffer from mentalhealth issues such as depression
and anxiety, compared to thepeers with a healthy weight.
Number seven cardiovascularrisk the Heart and Stroke
Foundation of Canada reportsthat obese children are more
likely to have high bloodpressure and high cholesterol,
(06:34):
which are significant riskfactors for cardiovascular
diseases.
And number eight disparitiesObesity rates in Canada are also
higher among certain ethnicgroups, with Indigenous children
and those from lowersocioeconomic backgrounds
experiencing higher rates ofobesity.
This points some fingers tosome governmental agencies that
(06:55):
need to step it up.
Now we need to also apply thepressure.
That's where our votes and taxdollars and lobbying comes into
play.
You know, if we just want tosit around and say, yeah, that's
a good idea, someone should dosomething about that, and we're
not want to sit around and say,yeah, that's a good idea,
someone should do somethingabout that, and we're not
willing to step up and dosomething ourselves, well, how's
the change going to do?
We've got to change thenarrative for our kids.
(07:18):
It's time to stop makingexcuses and start making changes
.
For every fast food mealswapped for a nutritious one,
every screen time hour replacedwith physical activity, and
every positive health choice wemodel for our children, we're
taking a step toward reversingthis crisis.
The future of our children'shealth depends on our actions
(07:40):
today.
So this all begets the questionwhy are kids getting getting
fatter?
And I don't like using the wordfatter, it is an f word in my
books, in my house that we sayfluffier, uh, so so why are kids
getting fluffier?
You know, why are kids packingon the pounds?
There's a few culprits ataction.
(08:01):
I'm going to share four that II see and this is both anecdotal
but also been documented, uh,scientifically.
Number one is sedentarylifestyles, which is pretty
straightforward.
I think that's fairly commonsense.
You know, with the rise oftechnology, especially what we
experienced through the pandemic, kids are glued to screens more
than ever.
According to the world healthorganization, children should
(08:24):
have at least one hour of screentime per day, at least when
they say at least.
I thought it was kind of funnywhen they said that, but they're
suggesting that, just based onthe way things work in our
societies, an hour a day is tobe expected.
But the issue lies because manymore are clocking in enough
hours to binge watch an entireseason of cartoons, quite
(08:46):
literally in a single day.
It's quite an imbalance andthis leads to greater inactivity
and excess calorie consumptionwhich isn't being burned off,
and so the weight's got to gosomewhere.
Those calories got to gosomewhere and so they get stored
on as excess weight, and thisleads to all sorts of other
lifestyle complications.
(09:13):
Now number two is poor dietaryhabits fast food, sugary drinks,
processed snacks and, as anepisode in season one, I talked
about ultra processed foods andthe impact it's having globally,
not only on various healthagencies, but just on our bottom
line as far as our waste andour pocketbooks are concerned.
But this has all becomehousehold staples, literally.
Fast food, sugary drinks,processed snacks it's just
(09:35):
regular, normalized householdstuff we find in our fridges and
in our cupboards.
It's the availability of cheap,high calorie, low nutrient
foods.
It's like basically handingkids a one-way ticket to weight
gain central, again, beingmindful and aware of what's
actually in the foods that we'reeating.
(09:55):
This points the finger again toeducation, and maybe we got to
change the way that we packagefoods.
Again, I'm going to leave thatfor another episode, because
that's just a whole nother canof worms.
Now number three lack ofphysical activity.
Schools are cutting back onphysical education.
They're not adding more,they're cutting back, and after
school activities are often moreabout thumb workouts yeah,
(10:17):
video games than actual sweatsessions.
Kids need at least 60 minutesof moderate to vigorous physical
activity daily, but most aren'tgetting them.
Number four is the influence ofparents.
Here's a tough pill to swallow.
Parents play a massive role intheir children's health habits.
(10:38):
When we prioritize convenienceover nutrition and screen time
over physical activity, our kidsare going to follow our suit,
right, they're going to followus.
They're going to do what we'redoing.
So when we prioritize certainthings over our own health and
well-being, what is that sayingto our kids?
(10:59):
It's saying, hey, it's okay ifyou do this too.
Now let's talk about someconsequences.
Childhood obesity isn't justabout carrying extra weight.
It brings a host of severehealth issues which I hinted to
earlier.
That study from Nature pointsout that obese children are at a
higher risk of type 2 diabetes,cardiovascular diseases, but
(11:21):
even mental health issues likedepression and anxiety.
Specifically, the studyhighlights that obese children
are four times more likely todevelop type 2 diabetes and have
a 25% higher risk of developingcardiovascular diseases
compared to their peers thathave a healthier weight.
Additionally, they are 30% morelikely to experience those
(11:42):
mental health issues likedepression and anxiety.
These kids are also more likelyto become obese.
Mental health issues likedepression, anxiety.
These kids are also more likelyto become obese adults, leading
to a lifetime of healthchallenges.
This is a cycle that needs tobe broken, and it starts with us
the parents, the teachers, thementors, the coaches, the
leaders in the community.
(12:02):
Let's address a critical issuethough the mixed messages we, as
parents, might be sending toour kids.
When we spend our free timeshuttling kids to activities but
neglect our health, weindirectly tell them it's okay
to put ourselves last, whilebeing supportive is absolutely
fantastic.
As a parent, it's crucial tomodel healthy behaviors, because
(12:24):
neuroscience has shown us thatwe learn predominantly through
two methods through mentorshipand modeling.
Kids learn by watching us.
They see us opting for fastfood at a convenience or
skipping workouts because we'retoo busy.
They'll likely pick up thesehabits too.
According to the AmericanPsychological Association,
(12:45):
children of parents whoprioritize their health and
well-being are more likely todevelop healthy habits
themselves.
Bonus Hello, that's great.
Specifically, research showsthat children of parents who
engage in regular physicalactivity are 75% more likely to
be active, and those who seetheir parents eating healthy
meals are 50% more likely toadopt similar eating habits.
(13:07):
It's all about balance or, aswe like to say, harmony, Showing
them that taking care ofourselves is just as important
as taking care of them.
So some of you may know orrecall that I was an obese
teenager, started putting on theLBs around nine and got to my
largest just before I hit age 15.
(13:28):
I was definitely rocking thedouble chin, but also a wardrobe
that was mainly consisting ofelastic waistbands, and you
might remember the old parachutepants right, or I'd wear really
huge jeans, you know, andshorts forget about it.
I didn't want people to see mylegs, you know.
I really dealt with a lot oflow self-esteem and
(13:54):
self-conscious awareness and Iremember my parents saying you
know, houston, we have a problem.
Of course, they didn't say itlike that, it's not like my
parents work for NASA oranything but they were eager to
help me find a solution becausethey saw me hurting.
They knew I was in pain and asparents, we never want to see
(14:15):
our kids like that.
But at the end of the day, ithad to get to a place where I
wanted to make a change and Ithink that's an important thing
to know.
We can be supportive for thepeople in our lives that are
struggling with their weight,that are trying to make health
and wellbeing changes, but theyjust are struggling at getting
traction, being consistent, and,as a result, there's a lot of
(14:39):
internal conflict happening forthose individuals.
I can speak from my ownexperience.
Every day you're kickingyourself, you're thinking, geez,
why am I such a failure?
Why can't I do this?
I try, I try and I try andnothing's working.
And that victim mentality feelsvery safe.
It gives us a reason, an excuse, some meaning to why things may
(15:01):
be going our way and we latchonto it.
I know I did.
Things may be going our way andwe latch onto it.
I know I did.
But when we eventually get to aplace where we recognize that
holding onto those old ideas andbeliefs are no longer
propelling us forward In fact,they were holding us back the
whole time but we become veryaware that it's that thinking,
that mindset, if you will, thatbelief system that's causing us
(15:25):
this stalling effect or this twosteps forward, 10 steps
backward feeling and the bestthing that we can do to start
seeing that through and thething that I found worked best
for me seeing this work forthousands of the people that
I've helped with making changeswe started making small,
manageable changes.
(15:45):
Some of the things I did waslike swapping out a lot of my
beloved sugary snacks because,man, I like sugar for healthier
alternatives.
And, as well, I startedsneaking in fun physical
activities into my regularroutine, like cycling, right,
like I love biking.
So to me it wasn't evenexercise, it wasn't working out,
it was just getting out anddoing something that I love.
And I made sure I had my SonyWalkman.
(16:06):
Yeah, I know I'm totally datingmyself.
Some of you are doing the mathnow and you're like, oh, my gosh
, that's gotta be pretty oldthen if he used the Sony Walkman
back then.
And I sure did, and I sure am.
And, uh, I remember having acassette in there.
And, yes, uh, for those of youthat are too young to know what
a cassette is, go Google it, I'mgoing to get into it.
But, um, a cassette tape.
(16:27):
And, uh, I remember I wouldhave on one side of that
cassette, uh, tragically hit theup to here album, and on the
other side I had stone templepilots and, uh, one of their
albums.
And, um, I knew that when Ididn't go for a bike ride.
This is after I got to acertain level of conditioning
and I wanted to challenge myself, going out longer and longer
(16:47):
rides.
I remember I said, okay, well,I'll go till the end of one
album and then when it ends, Iknow I got to turn around and go
home, so it ended up being 90minute rides.
You know it was a 45 minutetape cassette on both sides and
uh, or, or when you would listenon slow play, uh, anyways, I'm
not getting into the technologyor it's not as great as we are
now, I'll tell you that.
(17:07):
But for those that know theplight of the old cassette tape,
yeah, I was really good atgetting a lot out of my tapes
and I just remember making thosebike rides fun.
I got to listen to some greattunes, get outside, and I always
came back feeling better than Iwas before I started my ride.
And that's when I really startedputting two and two together,
(17:28):
realizing that my mental healthwas directly influenced, and
very much in a positive way, assoon as I would do something
physical, something intentional,that would get my heart rate
elevated, bring on a littlesweat, and I call this moving
with intention.
Now, as much as I started doingthat, as well as I started
(17:49):
educating myself and my familyabout nutrition because, let's
face it, we were clueless.
We think that we were eatingwell, but when you start looking
at the food and some of thoseingredients that sneak into our
foods, we start to realizethere's a lot of things working
against us.
So, over time, not only did Ilose the weight whereas I like
to say release the weightbecause I didn't ever want it
(18:11):
coming back I wanted to saybye-bye weight, because you know
, when we lose things, we alwayswant to find it again, don't we
?
I did not want to find myweight again.
I wanted to say bye-bye.
So I released that sucker and Ialso gained a boatload of
confidence in the process.
I went from couch potato toparticipating in sports, most of
them individual sports, because, to be honest, I found it
(18:33):
challenging to get into teamsports and that was more just
where I was at that time.
I was used to either beingpicked last or never being
picked.
So I kind of had a negativerelationship with that, with
team sports, and as such Igravitated to a lot of
individual sports like golf androck climbing and martial arts
and cycling and all sorts ofstuff, and then eventually into
(18:54):
CrossFit as well and all sortsof stuff and then eventually
into CrossFit as well.
And yeah, anyways, one of thebiggest things of going through
all these changes, it allowed meto also become a mentor for
others, especially now as beinga father of young adult children
and lots of young nieces andnephews, but also lots of
clients with lots of kids.
It's wonderful being able tomentor those other parents to
(19:15):
support their children withthriving in the home, because
that's where it all starts.
So, yeah, my transformation,I'm going to say it.
I think it was incredible,because for me it was.
But a lot of us can experiencethese big changes and it all
starts with small, seeminglyinsignificant steps.
So if I can do it, trust me, Iknow you can too, and so can
(19:37):
your kids.
Now, I know this has been aroundabout way and I've talked
about the problem, shared someanecdotes and stories about how
people have overcome these withsome small, very seemingly
doable things.
But why don't we talk a littlebit about solutions to deal with
this growing problem?
Here's some actionablestrategies.
You take what you want of this,but I think you'll agree that
(20:01):
with these four things, and ifwe can get better at doing these
four things, I see childhoodobesity making a huge turnaround
.
Number one healthy eating habits.
Let's talk about getting thosekiddos munching on the good
stuff.
Encourage your little champs togobble up more fruits, veggies,
(20:22):
whole grains, lean proteins.
These foods are like rocketfuel for their growth and their
development.
And let's not limit thosesugary drinks and snacks.
They're the villains in oursuperhero story.
We want to limit those.
The American Academy ofPediatrics has some killer
resources on family nutrition,offering guidelines and tips,
(20:43):
creating balanced meals.
And, trust me, your kids willthank you when you're.
You know.
Well, let's just say this yourkids are going to thank you when
they're not bouncing off thewalls from a sugar and you're
going to thank me too.
Now, number two is physicalactivity.
You know, one thing is work onthose healthy eating habits, but
we want to really focus on howare they moving?
Because kids, we know they needat least 60 minutes of moderate
(21:05):
to vigorous physical activityevery single day to keep those
little bodies fit and healthy.
But why not make it fun?
Dance parties, bike rides butwhy not make it fun?
Dance parties, bike rides andsports are all fantastic ways to
get them moving.
Think tag hiking,hide-and-go-seek, even a game of
who can clean their room thefastest.
Believe me, it actually workswith my kids that they
(21:26):
eventually catch on.
But you can get away with it afew times, I'll tell you that.
But physical activity helpsbuild strong bones and muscles,
improves cardiovascular healthand boosts mood and, who knows,
you might discover you've got afuture Olympian on your hands.
Right Cleaning room for timeThree, two, one go, all right.
Number three education andawareness.
Teach your kids about theimportance of a balanced diet
(21:47):
and regular exercise.
I mean, it's one thing to talkand show, but why not educate so
they understand why?
Why is this so important forthem and what's in it for them
if they can implement some ofthis knowledge that they're
gaining into internalized wisdomthat they can take with them
for the rest of their lives?
What do you think that would belike?
(22:08):
Schools and community programscan be your secret weapon here.
Offering structured lessons onnutrition, health, fitness,
interactive workshops, cookingclasses, physical education
programs can make learning abouthealth super engaging.
Think of it as sneaking veggiesinto their favorite dish.
Learning disguised as funBecause you know education.
(22:32):
I know it's not always fun forour kids, but I think it can be
made to be fun, especially whenthey buy in themselves and
they're there because they wantto be there.
So don't be afraid to have theconversation, to dialogue, to
open up why this is great forthem, but also why is it great
for you?
All right, supportiveenvironment.
(22:53):
Create an environment at homewhere healthy choices are the
easy choices.
Stock your pantry and fridgewith nutritious options like
fresh fruits and veggies, wholegrain products, lean protein
sources.
Lead by example.
Kids are little sponges.
They soak up everything theysee, they hear, so if they catch
you munching on a salad orhitting the gym, they'll be more
(23:15):
likely to follow suit.
Involve the whole family in themeal planning and prep and make
physical activity a regularpart of your routine.
It's like building a fortressof healthy habits, but you got
to build it one brick at a time.
All right, that's it for today'sepisode on Childhood Abuse.
Remember, we can change thisnarrative for our kids, but it
(23:38):
has to start with us.
By prioritizing our health andfitness, we set the best
possible example for ourchildren.
They need to see us makinghealthy choices, staying active
and caring for our bodies.
Imagine the ripple effect if weall started today.
Picture your kids seeing you gofor a morning run, choosing a
(23:58):
salad over a fast food entree ortaking a few minutes to stretch
and breathe these small actionsspeak volumes.
They tell our kids this is howwe care for ourselves.
This is how we live healthy,happy lives.
So let's commit to being thechange we want to see in our
(24:19):
children.
Let's show them that health andfitness are priorities not just
for them, but the whole family.
Let's inspire them with ouractions, not just our words.
If you enjoyed this episode,share with a friend or family
member who might find it helpful, and don't forget to follow us
on social media and leave areview if you love the podcast,
because your feedback andstories are what keep this
(24:40):
community strong and thriving.
Stay strong, stay focused andkeep pushing your limits.
Together, we can create ahealthier future for our kids
and for ourselves.
I'm Diamond Well, and you'vebeen listening to the 2%
Solution.
Let's keep thriving togetherand I'll see you next time.
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