Childhood Obesity: Not Just a FAT or LAZY Problem

Last week, I wrote to you about the dangers of making use of Statin drugs to lower cholesterol in high-risk young children (“The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! NOT Statin Drugs”), and since I’m devoted to helping our kids attain balance and wellness in their lives, this week, I’m continuing my three-component series on the topic of childhood obesity. 
 
CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS NOT JUST A “FAT” OR “LAZY” Dilemma!
 
I’ve encountered so many men and women who look at an overweight child and immediately begin pointing fingers at them, labeling them as “fat” or “lazy.” Then they turn to the parents and accuse them of letting their kids eat too significantly junk food or of not encouraging their kids to be much more active. What greater example of this stereotype is there than the infamous glutton “Augustus Gloop” and his mother, a woman who proudly supports his overeating, in the common Willy Wonka movies?
 
AUGUSTUS GLOOP AND OTHER OVERWEIGHT Young children Will need TO HAVE THEIR DOSHAS CHECKED!
 
Even the most active youngsters with proactive parents can struggle in the fight to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Rather than shame kids or stuff them with “diet” foods (or worse, drugs and chemicals), we really should employ safe, natural Ayurvedic strategies to gently guide them toward a healthier way of life.

The initial step on this path is determining your child’s dosha.
 
″DOSHA” WANT TO KNOW Far more ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S GOVERNING LIFE FORCE?
 
A “dosha” – as many of you already know – is a Sanskrit word translated as “governing principle.” Everything in nature is composed of the five glorious elements of air (known as “Ant” in Ayurveda), space, fire, water, and earth. Combinations of these elements with 3 forces (doshas) to maintain them in the appropriate relationship with every other, dictate all functions of the body, mind and universal consciousness. There are three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha, and knowing which dosha is predominant in your child will give you a far more efficient way of responding to his or her physical, nutritional, spiritual and emotional requirements.

Here’s a quick and handy list you can use to figure out which dosha your lovely and distinctive child possesses:
 
THE VATA CHILD:

• Busy, busy, busy!
• Active imagination and happy to be lost in fantasy
• Naptime = “No! I don’t wanna!”
• “Ants in the Pants” – fidgety and usually moving
• Eat lots of modest meals
• Will “hide” but rarely “seek”: like to participate but feel intimidated by lead roles
  
THE PITTA CHILD:

• Creative!
• Follow the leader: like to play in groups and lead the games
• Eat excellent meals and will get cranky if they’re late
• Prone to rashes and food allergies and sensitivities
• Temper, temper: get frustrated easily but will forget it fast and move on the next enterprise
• Play challenging, nap tough
• A “model employee”: like to do critical jobs and do them right!
  
THE KAPHA CHILD:

• Participate joyfully!
• “I’m not ‘It’!”: observers rather than leaders
• Memory masters: will keep in mind each fact and repeat them if you ask
• “I’d rather be playing”: napping takes a backseat to enjoyable
• Extremely contented overall
• Watch out for imbalance: can turn out to be really possessive of Mom, Dad and his or her belongings
 
NOW YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD’S DOSHA. THE NEXT STEP?&amp#8232 DIAGNOSE THEIR WEIGHT Problem!