The We Can! Program
Every generation falls prey to a new health risk -- polio, tuberculosis, AIDs -- and the present generation is no exception. Unfortunately, the major health risk of this generation isn’t an unseen germ or virus making its way through the blood stream. The health enemy of this generation is one of our making. Born during the “would-you-like-to-super-size-that-for-just-twenty-more-cents” request at the local fast food drive-thru, coupled with drastic changes to a more sedentary life style, more than just the meal has become supersized.
A health crisis of our own making, obesity is now reaching out and not only impacting adults, but our children as well. More than 17 percent of all children are currently obese, with another 15 percent considered overweight, potentially increasing their risk of very adult diseases such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. It’s generally accepted that we need to do something about the rising numbers, but for parents the question of where to start can be overwhelming. How do you teach children and to be healthy when it comes to diet and weight and physical activity without giving your 10 year old a diet complex?
Fortunately, help is available for parents, educators, and anyone else interested in reversing this trend. One such program is Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition, better known as We Can!
A national movement, We Can! is unique because all four institutes which make up the National Institutes of Health -- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Cancer Institute -- have combined resources to create a unique program designed to help improve nutrition, fitness levels, reduce obesity levels, and improve future health outlooks in children between the ages of 8 and 13.
To help make the mission of We Can! a success, the program addresses topics ranging from diet, nutrition, weight management, increasing physical activity in children, to reducing time in front of the TV or computer.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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A report by Dr. Cooper at Vanderbilt University states that 2.5 million children are now taking atypical antipsychotics. Over half are being given them for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Use caution in treating children with powerful psyche drugs like Zyprexa,that can lead to life-long side effects like insulin resistant diabetes.
The use of powerful antipsychotic drugs has increased in children as young as three years old. Weight gain, increases in triglyceride levels and associated risks for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
August 15, 2011 - 1:18pmEli Lilly also make billions on drugs that treat the diabetes often that has been caused by the Zyprexa!
-Daniel Haszard
http://www.zyprexa-victims.com
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Hello Daniel,
August 30, 2011 - 7:41pmThanks so much for posting. You bring up a good point. Many medications can - and do - contribute to obesity and other health related conditions. It's important for parents to understand how medications that their children take affect their overall, long-term health.