Our children are the future
When Whitney Houston sang "children are our future/teach them well and let them lead the way," she was right on. But as a country, we're letting our kids down, big time.
A recent research letter in JAMA Pediatrics looked at 10 years' worth of data on young people ages 12 to 25. It showed that obesity was the cause of almost 80% of diabetes cases and 10% of asthma cases in 18- to 25-year-olds and almost half of cases of asthma and liver stenosis (AKA fatty liver disease) in kids ages 12 to 17.
Among overweight (but not obese) young adults, 21% of liver stenosis cases and 10% of high blood pressure cases were from carrying excess pounds. And among overweight adolescents, just over 6% of asthma cases and 13% of liver stenosis cases were related to their unhealthy weight.
If your adolescent or young adult child is obese or overweight, it's smart for you to teach them well and lead the way to a healthier future. Be a role model for good nutrition and physical activity, stress management, healthy sleep habits and fun! Offer them support for exploring physical activities that interest them. Sign up for charity walks, bike rides and pickleball tournaments together! Get them involved with healthy cooking. Clear out highly processed and sugar-added foods from your pantry. Ditch red meats for salmon and skinless poultry. My "What to Eat When Cookbook" can inspire you both. And for ongoing support for a healthier future, sign them -- and yourself -- up for the free newsletter at 4YOUngevity.com.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Comments