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the life they're creating for their child. Actually on that note I'm reminded of a reality TV show, "Honey, we're killing the kids." That show did exactly that, terrified parents by showing them exactly the lives they were creating for their kids and then educated them on how they could completely change that outcome.

Obesity in children is completely the responsibility of the parents. We need to be aware of the education we give our children about food. Schools teach about the healthy food triangle but we override that with pizza and Macdonald's. Schools encourage sports and physical activity and then we let the kids come home and vege in front of the TV or video games with chips, lollies, and soda.

As parents we need to be very conscious of the lessons we teach our children now. Perhaps it would help to focus on our own unhealthy habits and consider where we developed them. Do you reach for chocolate whenever you're upset or to reward yourself? Think about that, did you get rewarded or soothed with sweets as a child? Do you cook a full English breakfast every Sunday? Think about it, did your own family do that when you were a child?

Of course we want our kids to be healthy but there is also the other extreme to avoid. Instead of 'spoiling' our children with the things that are not good for them we don't want to deprive them of the treats and praise involved in growing up. Having a healthy diet is NOT about dieting, it's about BALANCE. If you cut out sweets completely your children are going to resent being deprived which could rebound. Remember the things you hated not being allowed to have as a child? Don't you make up for that now you're an adult and can give it to yourself?

The responsibility of our child's health falls on our shoulders. We can raise them to make the right choices and give them a full and exciting life. Or we can raise them to make the wrong choices and lead them toward depression, low self-esteem, degenerative health issues, early death, diabetes, cancer, infertility... (the list goes on) It's your choice. Are you abusing your child?

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Laffar-Smith.
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