Alright, confession time: I watch a lot of bad reality TV. Please don't judge me.For many reasons, one of my favorite shows is the Biggest Loser. I'm a health nut; I love watching the transformations; and I get a kick out of the trainers screaming their heads off.
But the fact that such a show even exists and that the people on it are getting bigger and bigger each season is kind of a sad commentary on the state of overall health in this country.
A lot of the bad health habits we have now as adults were learned as kids and teenagers. We eat the same foods our moms cooked and we learn about an active or sedentary lifestyle from our parents' examples. So it seems the way to fix our obesity problem is to start with educating kids and parents, which is exactly what the Let's Move campaign is trying to do.
Backed by Michelle Obama, Let's Move teaches kids the importance of getting some kind of activity every day. It uses the approach that something, even if it's just a little, is always better than nothing.
Take a walk, ride a bike, play tag. It's all better than guzzling a soda and playing video games.
Parents can learn simple things they can do to encourage their kids to be healthy. Sit down on a weekend and map out dinners for the week together. Involve your kids in the process of choosing healthy foods and, if age appropriate, let them help make dinner. Instead of a candy dish, parents could swap it for a fruit dish. Put easy to grab fruits in your kids' reach and they might not miss the candy.
Being healthy doesn't have to mean some extreme diet and exercise plan, it can be little things you do each day to help set a good example for your family.
Check out Letsmove.gov and share one healthy thing you do each day. "
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