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Show Healthy Kids Family Health I Fitness Tips Kids Face Adult Health Issues i| ByKatherineBurgeneri First the bad news, and the statistics are pretty grim: as a nation, our children are more overweight, and in worse health, than ever before in recorded history. According to the National Institute for Health, one of the most frightening 'adult diseases' affecting our children today is heart disease. These used to be things to worry about once we hit 40. Today the following key risk factors, which are epidemics in themselves, for heart disease, are affecting grade school age children: • Obesity - your pediatrician has healthy height/weight standards for your child based on age and growth patterns. • High cholesterol - should be checked if there if a family history or if your child is overweight. • High blood pressure - should be checked at each doctor visit. • Type II diabetes - different from juvenile onset or Type I, can be controlled with diet and exercise. Symptoms include excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, drowsiness, blurry vision and obesity. Grab yer hats and boots and saddle up fer the best Cowboy poetry, humor and music this side of the pecos. Yup, it's Cowboy Night at the Egyptian Theater! We'll make ya laugh, we'll make ya cry, fact is, we might even make ya jump right out of yer seat. Every Tuesday in Feb & March & Every Tuesday in July & August Looking for a unique place to throw a birthday party? TRY THE EDWIN A ROOM! Edwina is our resident ghost and she loves parties! Your room rental includes a tour of the theatre where you'll hear about the colorful history of the building and of course our favorite "Edwina Stories. " Call for details =7£= Mary G. Steiner Egyptian Theatre • 328 Main Street I For tickets or information, please call I 4' 435-649-9371 >5Sz «| - . www.EgyptianTheatreCompany.org Park City Parent aiMer/sonns 2005 ; "1 think it will take massive cultural changes in what we eat and how we raise our kids to really see a reversal in the obesity epidemic, and I don't have any illusions about this happening tomorrow," says Henry C. McGill Jr., of the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. "It has taken 40 years to make a significant impact on smoking, and 1 think that is the kind of major public effort we are talking about." Finally, the good news. A healthy diet and daily exercise can reverse damage and promote healthy, happier children. The bottom line is lifestyle. "Although Park City has overweight children, in general people who choose to live here tend to move here for the athletic activities and tend to raise their children to be more active so we don't see it as much," says local pediatrician Kathy Ostler, MD. Still, according to Ostler, and her colleague Lena Terry, MD, there is room for improvement. This epidemic of 'adult' diseases in children is largely preventable, controllable and reversible. Following are some ways to change or improve your child's, as well as your whole family's lifestyle: • Change to whole grain foods whole wheat breads and pastas, brown rice and whole grain cereal • Limit soda and fruit drinks - 12 ounces contain approximately 150 'empty' calories • Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables - they contain fiber, vitamins and give children a feeling of fullness so they won't overeat • Eat more foods with calcium - milk products can aid in weight loss if you chose low fat versions for kids older than two • Be more active .- we live in an outdoor lover's paradise with skiing, mountain biking, swimming and a host of organized activities • Eat out less often - restaurant port-ions tend to be higher in fat and serving size • Most importantly, be a good role model for your children. "We need to educate our children to give their bodies healthy 'whole' foods and to eat 'treats' in moderation," says Connie Barnhardt, certified nutritionist, LCSW and fitness specialist in Park City. "It's the 80/20 rule, if you eat healthy and exercise 80 percent of the time, you can enjoy other types of food at a birthday party without becoming neurotic." Barnhardt uses healthy snacks to keep her own children from hinging on what she refers to as 'empty' calories like chips and cookies. For example, she makes readily available salad dressing dip with vegetables for dipping, low-fat string cheese, almonds or nuts, low-fat yogurt, peanut butter sandwiches and cut-up fruit. She added, "Kids will naturally eat healthy food if it is made available to them from a young age. If nut, they • Continued on Pa$e IO 9 |