12/07/2024
Childhood obesity has been my passion since I was a student teacher at 21 yrs old. In grad school my research thesis was on childhood obesity and it was my dream to open a facility or medical practice to help overweight kids.
As I reflect on another year gone and future goals, I asked myself why have I never pursued this passion? The answer is simple… fear. Fear of hurting people’s feelings, Fear of failing a kid, Fear of making parents mad or upset, and Fear of losing patients, clients, or friends by being truthful.
However, after the past few years working in the hospital and every single day seeing people & families suffering with conditions that are directly related to obesity, I realize my real fear should be complacency- NOT doing or saying anything.
We all know being overweight leads to Diabetes, High blood pressure, heart disease, and depression but it also affects SO much more! Of all the medicine in the world, the best medicine is still WALKING. As we gain weight, joints start hurting, back pain develops, activity decreases, it gets harder to breathe with movement, blood circulation decreases, legs swell, diabetic or venous ulcers form, infections set in, and amputations occur, mental and physical health suffers. I see this road travelled every day. The first 2 dominoes are weight management and activity but the scary part for our overweight kiddos is that these conditions now happen at 40 instead of 70.
I love that our culture has accepted plus size as beautiful and that models/entertainers are no longer pressured to be super skinny. I am one of those people that admires overweight people in bikinis because it shows a healthy self-esteem and body image. Not everyone is meant to be the same size and shape. But for KIDs, the truth is if they are struggling to maintain weight as a kid it will only continue to get worse as an adult.
So with all that said (from a place of genuine care & concern, not judgement) if you would like more information on how I can help your child or teen without medications, please send a direct message. I would love to help. 💕