Apples: The Back to School Fruit

As the Fall season approaches, and kids head back to school, it's time to stock up on apples!  Apples provide several health benefits and are a great addition when packing your child's lunch.

Apples

Updated: 9/8/22

3 Health Benefits of Apples:

1. Apples have high fiber content.  A medium apple contains about 4 grams of fiber, helping you feel full, promoting intestinal regularity, and helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

2. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, an essential vitamin that helps the body create and maintain connective tissue.

3. Apples are high in antioxidants, contributing to decreased inflammation and reduced risk of cancer.  Apples contain a significant amount of an antioxidant called quercetin, which helps promote healthy lung function.

5 Ways to Incorporate Apples into Healthy School Lunches:

1. Make an "apple sandwich" by using apple slices as "bread" and filling the middle of two slices with peanut butter.  Try adding raisins.

2. Add diced apples to tuna salad and wrap tuna mixture in a whole wheat pita to add some crunch to your child's sandwich.

ApplePeanutButterSandwich

3. Use a vegetable spiralizer to make apple "pasta" noodles.  Kids can turn the spiralizer handle and watch their fruit turn into pasta.  Use as a base for a fruit salad, or place spiralized apple into a container to be eaten like "noodles".

4. Kids love to dip!  Slice apples into thin "sticks" that can be used for dipping.  Pack peanut butter or yogurt to dip the apple sticks.

5. If simply adding apple slices to your child's lunchbox, cut up the apple, then reassemble it with a rubber band around it - to keep the apple slices from browning and fresh until lunchtime.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC442131/

Creative Snacks for Kids

Updated: 8/11/22

Try out these creative snack ideas for kids that are not only fun, but healthy too!  

1. Cut fruit into fun shapes using cookie cutters - watermelon, pineapple, kiwi and cantaloupe work great!  Cookie cutters also work great with gelatin (use MWLC Cherry Gelatin Fiber to avoid sugary gelatin products from the store.)

GoFishing

2. Mold and position food into fun shapes and themes for children.  For example, create a "rainbow" using red, green, orange and yellow slices of bell pepper, with cauliflower florets to represent "clouds".  Use other fruits and vegetables to create animals, flowers, and other creative scenes for your kids.

3. Pour yogurt into ice cube molds (shaped molds can be found online) and freeze - kids will love the fun shapes in these easy frozen yogurt bites!

4. Kids love to dip!  Try dipping celery sticks into peanut butter, and Goldfish snacks, to create a 'Going Fishing' game.

5.  Make kabobs!  Cut up fresh fruit - strawberries, melon, pineapple - and add the chunks to a skewer.  Dip skewers in yogurt.

6.  Create "fruit popsicles".  In a blender, mix seedless watermelon, strawberries and fresh lemon juice.  Pour mixture into popsicle molds and freeze until firm.  Enjoy!

Cooking with Kids

Cooking is a great way to bring kids and parents together and encourage healthy eating!  Here's 3 reasons why cooking with your children is important and how to get started.

3 Reasons to Cook with Kids:

1. Cooking can be a great learning experience!  Having children participate in the cooking process can help them learn basic math skills (counting, weighing, measuring) and develop language.  Try creating a menu together and learning the nutrition involved in the menu. Discuss the food groups and what types of foods fit into each group.

CookingWithKids2

2. Cooking promotes a feeling of responsibility and encourages healthy eating.  Teach kids about why foods are considered "healthy" or "unhealthy" and encourage cooking with fruits and vegetables.  Involving children in the food preparation process promotes more mindful food choices and eating patterns.  Also, the more invested in the meal, the more likely the child is to enjoy it - kids are much more likely to eat food they make themselves.

3. It teaches your kids a basic and essential life skill!  Cooking is an important skill and involving children at an early age helps set them up for future success.

How do you start cooking with your kids?  Start with an easier dish, or breakfast on the weekends where you have more time and let them try out the below tasks.

Cooking Tasks for Young Children:

1. Adding ingredients to a mixing bowl.
2. Stirring batter.
3. Assembling a pizza or sandwich.
4. Tearing apart food (such as lettuce).
5. Drying greens in a salad spinner.
6. Setting the table for the meal.

Cooking Tasks for Older Children:

1. Peeling fruits and vegetables (with a small peeler).
2. Mashing potatoes.
3. Stirring ingredients.
4. Rolling out dough and using cookies cutters.
5. Rinsing vegetables.
6. Squeezing lemons or limes with a plastic juicer.
7. Grating cheese.
8. Cracking eggs.
9. Measuring ingredients.

Top Foods Rich in Water (and How to Get Your Kids to Eat Them)

Hydration is critical for children’s well-being, especially in the summertime heat. Children don’t always recognize they are thirsty. If they start feeling dizzy, lethargic or haven’t needed to urinate, they could be dehydrated. Increasing fruit and vegetable intake not only helps with water consumption, it also adds a variety of nutrients that only these foods can provide. How many ounces of water should your child be drinking daily? 48 ounces is ideal for children and 64 ounces for adults, 30 minutes before beginning activities and every 15-20 minutes during activities.

Here are the top 10 foods rich in water - and how to get your kids to eat them!

1. LETTUCE
Did you know that lettuce is composed of 96% water? If your kids like salads, that’s an easy way to hydrate them; or make sandwich wraps using lettuce leaves.

2. CUCUMBER
Being cool as a cucumber is fitting since this veggie is also 96% water. Peel and slice to snack on with a tasty dip/dressing or add to a pitcher of water.

3. CELERY
Composed of 95% water, celery is easy to prepare. Celery sticks are an easy snack to replenish fluids and it can add a satisfying crunch when diced up in your favorite salads. Extra bonus? It’s full of fiber too!

4. TOMATO
Containing 95% water, tomatoes can be cut into quarters or slices and added to sandwiches, salads or wraps. Skewer cherry or grape tomatoes with basil leaves for fun kabobs.

5. WATERMELON
Appropriately named, each bite of this fruit contains 92% water. Carry a container with you for a sweet and refreshing snack. Drizzle watermelon wedges with yogurt and add fresh berries for a twist on fruit pizza. A medium slice of watermelon can provide about 1 cup of water.

6. CANTALOUPE
Containing 90% water, cantaloupe can be sliced and added to sandwiches or balled and skewered with watermelon and blueberries for a sweet treat.

7. PEACH
Peaches are 89% water so pack them carefully so they don’t bruise. Add fresh peaches to plain yogurt or water to add subtle flavor.

8. GRAPEFRUIT
Once you peel the fragrant rind, the fruit actually yields 88% water. Another great fruit to add to your water, this is also great in a salad with a variety of greens.

9. PINEAPPLE
Composed of 86% water, pineapple is a sweet snack sure to help hydrate kids. Add pineapple chunks to ice cube trays and freeze. Kids will love the surprise inside once the ice melts. Grilling lean proteins like pork chops, chicken breast or salmon? Add a few pineapple rings to the grill too! Six rings of pineapple can provide about 1 cup of water.

10. BLUEBERRIES
At 84% water, blueberries are at the lower end of this hydration list but they more than make up for it due to nutrients and antioxidants. Snack on as is, add them to salads to plain yogurt or cereal.

How to get your kids to eat better

Most parents beg, plead, and plot to get a child to eat vegetables. We’ve discovered a few ways to incorporate healthier options into the diets of any averse eater.

SMOOTHIES: Add spinach or kale and a drop of mint extract to a vanilla smoothie for a fun St. Patrick’s Day drink.

SPRINKLES: Kids love sprinkles! Use a grater or microplane to grate broccoli, carrots, beets or cauliflower to add a pop of color to the top of your meal.

TAKE TURNS: Allow each person in the family to choose a meal each night of the week. It will help each kid try a meal that is not necessarily a favorite, but they know their turn to choose will be coming soon.

BE SNEAKY: Add finely chopped spinach to pasta sauce, zucchini and carrots into meatloaf or meatballs. The possibilities are endless.

BENEFITS: Google the benefits of specific foods and reinforce how they help our bodies. Google is a great way to find new recipes together also.

CDC says 1 in 5 adolescents and 1 in 4 young adults have prediabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a significant amount of young Americans are now at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The CDC reports that overweight young people were significantly more likely to have prediabetes (elevated blood sugar levels, but have not reached the threshold to be considered diabetic).

“The prevalence of prediabetes in adolescents and young adults reinforces the critical need for effective public health strategies that promote healthy eating habits, physical activity, and stress management,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. “These lifestyle behaviors can begin early in a child’s life and should continue through adolescence and adulthood to reduce onset of type 2 diabetes.”

The CDC also notes that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active.

Link to original article here: https://www.wxyz.com/news/national/cdc-says-1-in-5-adolescents-and-1-in-4-young-adults-have-prediabetes

Did you know that Medical Weight Loss Clinic can help children with healthy lifestyle changes as young as 10 years old? We can! Book a free consultation today https://mwlc.com/book-your-consultation

School's Out For Summer

The lazy days of summer will be here before we know it. Suddenly, there will be no homework and little to keep your teens and tweens occupied. Encourage them to continue to exercise their bodies and their minds by keeping busy even while they aren’t at school.

GET MOVING
Kids still need at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily to stay healthy. This can be more of a challenge in the summer without regularly scheduled recesses and gym classes.

1. Family time. Take a walk with the dog after dinner, a leisurely bike ride around the neighborhood or play catch in the park. Your children are more likely to be active if you are too.

2. Chore time. Tweens and teens can help with many household chores such as vacuuming, dusting, watering flowers, weeding beds or car washing. Busy or elderly neighbors might appreciate assistance also.

3. Biking, swimming or hiking on vacation. A trip to a museum, zoo or aquarium will not only get their feet moving, they’ll learn something new too.

4. Sign up for a new sport or activity. Try something new - your local community or youth center will have plenty of activities available for all ages.

5. Try summer camp. Your community or church may have opportunities for day camps or sleep away camps where your kids can learn new skills such as rock climbing, archery, canoeing, cooking, baking or crafting.

KEEP THINKING
Easing back to school in the fall should be smooth sailing with these ideas to engage their brains.

1. Limit electronics. Kids shouldn’t spend more than two hours per day on digital devices.

2. Community service projects. Help your teen or tween find something they find interesting or volunteer as a family.

3. Find a summer job. Teens must be at least 14 years old to legally work at most jobs, but younger kids can help with simple yard work, pet sitting or baby sitting duties.

4. After school activities. If your child belongs to an after school activity, find out if the school offers the program over the summer.

5. Encourage reading. Set aside family reading time each week and help your kids select books they will enjoy.

6. Tutor. Find a tutor over the summer to hone your child’s skills or encourage your child to tutor others if they excel in a subject.

7. Brain games. Logic puzzles and brain teaser books are great, especially on rainy days. Try sudoku, crosswords, word search, or trivia books.

Teach your child how to be well during Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Rates of childhood obesity in the U.S. have tripled since the 1970s, and despite recent optimism that those rates are stabilizing or dropping, the latest evidence proves otherwise.

A study published this year in the journal Pediatrics found that childhood obesity has steadily risen since 1999, with the biggest jumps among kids ages 2 to 5 and teenage girls between 16 and 19. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that about one in five kids and teens between ages 6 and 19 are obese.

This month, Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, we want to remind parents and caregivers that it’s critical that you help your children fight back against statistics like these. Childhood obesity can have wide-ranging side effects, some of which may last into adulthood.

According to the CDC, children with obesity are at a higher risk of acquiring other chronic health conditions such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint issues, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. They are also more likely to develop these health issues and others, such as many types of cancer, in adulthood. In addition, obese children are more likely than their peers to suffer from depression, low self-esteem and social isolation.

Here’s how you can help your child avoid obesity and maintain a healthy weight.

• Limit screen time to less than two hours a day. “A great way to limit screen time without your children missing it is to encourage active play and participate with them,” says Erika Petrie, Medical Weight Loss Clinic service coordinator. “Go for a walk with them before or after a meal or take a bike ride as a family.”

• Make sure water is your child’s main beverage and that it is accessible throughout the day. Limit other beverages to one or two per day. A low calorie/low sugar beverage is ideal.

• Let kids help prepare and plan a few meals a week. Create a balanced meal with lean protein, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and milk. Make sure the meals your children build are low sodium and sugar.

• Plan a structured daily schedule, and set a time for dinner that you sit down with the family to eat. “It’s important that you get your children into a routine of when they should eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a young age,” says Christina Karas, service coordinator at Medical Weight Loss Clinic. “This helps kids avoid bad eating habits that are hard to break when they get older.”

• Make sure your kids have a good breakfast within the first hour or so of waking up. This sets the pace for their day, refueling their body with essential vitamins and nutrients, and giving them energy.

• Portion food groups at mealtime. Do not go back for seconds unless you are still physically hungry and encourage your children to do the same. “Eat slowly and give your body 20 minutes to let your food settle. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to send a message to your stomach to let you know you are full,” Petrie says.

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep. Sleep is just as important to your children's development and well-being as nutrition and physical activity. Karas notes that, “The amount and quality of sleep we have can affect our safety, how alert we are, as well as our memories, moods, behavior and learning abilities.”

• Give your children healthy snacks. Stay away from salty sugary snacks such as chips, candy, cookies and cakes. Instead be creative with snack time, and make them fun. One fun idea Petrie and Karas recommend is to spread peanut butter on a slice of whole grain bread, add blueberries for the eyes, a slice of banana for the nose and a sliced apple for the mouth, then make fruit kabobs with the leftover fruit slices.

• Have children help grow their food. Get them involved with planting a garden of fresh herbs and vegetables. “If they help grow and take care of the food they planted they are more likely to eat it or at least try it,” Karas says.

Do you want to get your weight to a healthy level that will help you feel confident in being a role model for your children? Contact Medical Weight Loss Clinic for a free consultation at 248-353-8446 or click here to schedule online.

Every Kid Healthy™ Week

Childhood obesity is on the rise.  Every Kid Healthy™ Week is an annual observance created to celebrate school health and wellness achievements and recognized on the calendar of National Health Observances. Observed the last week of April each year, this special week shines a spotlight on the great efforts schools are making to improve the health and wellness of their students and the link between nutrition, physical activity, and learning – because healthy kids are better prepared to learn! Anyone can get involved and be a part of the celebration to help support sound nutrition, regular physical activity and health-promoting programs in schools with a school health event. Schools are invited to host an event during Every Kid Healthy Week or anytime in April. What are you doing to improve your child's health and wellness?

For more information, visit:  http://everykidhealthyweek.org/

WSYM: ProTeens

Learn more about ProTeen, Medical Weight Loss Clinic's program designed to how to make healthy food choices. Tracy joined Bob & Mary from Fox 47's The Morning Blend to discuss how families can work together to to set children up for a lifetime of healthy decision making starting within the kitchen.  For recipes, visit www.mwlc.com/recipes

Back to School Rainbow Meal Planning

Updated: 8/2/18

In the U.S., only eight percent of children consume dark, leafy greens. Many children are tempted by sugary and carb-dense foods, rather than colorful produce that offers a wide variety of phytochemicals and antioxidants. In addition to helping children establish lifelong, healthy habits, the nutrients found in fruits and vegetables are essential not only for developmental health, but to fight off disease and chronic conditions too. When looking for culinary inspiration this school year, use the colors of the rainbow as a guide and "eat the rainbow".

Red foods contain lycopene, anthocyanins, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Lycopene is a strong antioxidant linked to reducing the risk of cancer. Specifically, tomatoes are said to fight the threat of heart disease and berries are linked to a lower risk of cancer, diabetes, inflammation and neurological diseases.  Try apples, cherries, pomegranate seeds, raspberries, red cabbage, red onion, red peppers, strawberries or tomatoes.

Orange/Yellow foods contain beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin which support healthy skin, hair and vision. It is also a phytonutrient that helps make vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is important for night vision and the vitamin C found in citrus fruits improves immune health. Yellow foods are also high in folate, supporting red blood cell functions.  Cantaloupe, orange/yellow peppers, oranges, peaches, pineapples and sweet potatoes are great sources!

Green foods contain essential micronutrients like iron and their high fiber content lowers the glycemic index of foods eaten along with them. These foods also contain vitamin B for energy, vitamins C and E to fight off free radicals that promote disease and offer calcium for bone health. The alkaline found in green foods can also help reduce acidity.  Try broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, grapes, green beans, honeydew, kale or pears.

Blue/Purple foods have high amounts of potassium, which help oxygen flow throughout the brain and body, which can help alleviate allergies and inflammation. The most unique benefits of blue and purple food is their ability to assist in preventing urinary tract infections, fight ulcers and prevent other diseases caused by cell damage.  Try beets, blueberries, eggplant, purple asparagus, purple cauliflower, red cabbage, red and purple grapes or plums.

White/Brown Healthy, white foods include those that are tan or brown on the outside and white on the inside.  One of the most common cancer-fighting antioxidants in white foods is called anthoxanthin. Garlic, ginger, onions and all other allium vegetables also contain an antioxidant called allicin, shown to act as a natural antibiotic to help boost the immune system.  Try bean sprouts, garlic, ginger, mushrooms, onions or tofu.

Does TV in the Bedroom Increase Childhood Obesity?

Updated: 8/22/18

A recent study in 2017 by scientists at the University College London suggests that children who have television sets in their bedrooms are more likely to be overweight than children who do not.

The study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, analyzed data from over 12,000 young children in the United Kingdom that indicated if the children had a TV in their bedroom or not.  A parent rating of how many hours per day the children spent in general, watching television, was also analyzed.  The first astonishing fact, was that more than half of the children had TVs in their bedrooms at the age of 7.

A few years later, when the children were at the age of 11, researchers analyzed their body mass index and looked at their percentage of body fat.

Girls who had TVs in their bedrooms at the age of seven were 30% more likely to be overweight when they were 11, compared to children who did not have TVs in their bedrooms.  For boys, the risk was increased by around 20%.  This data shows that there is a link between having a TV in the bedroom as a child and being overweight a few years later.

This link is not clear, but the researchers suggest it may be a result of children getting less sleep due to watching TV or eating too many snacks in front of the television screen.  They hypothesize that girls have a stronger link because they are less physically active at this age than boys.

Researchers encourage strategies to prevent childhood obesity to do more to tackle this issue.

Writing in the journal, they say: "While our screens have become flatter, our children have become fatter."

Original Article Here:  http://www.bbc.com/news/health-40120286

Children's Menus Remain Unhealthy at Restaurants Despite Industry Push

The healthy eating trend has impacted many American diets in recent years, but there's one crucial area that has remained largely unchanged - the children's menu. Studies show many children's menus lacking in healthy options.

Tracy talks about how parents need to change children's eating habits at home first while they are young.

How do YOU make sure your kids eat healthy?

Childhood Obesity Awareness Month - Week 4

It’s the end of Childhood Obesity Awareness Month!  Medical Weight Loss Clinic would like to thank the following communities that joined us in proclaiming the week of September 19th as Childhood Obesity Awareness Week in Michigan!  Mayors from a few different communities stopped by our clinics to present our proclamations in person or invited us to council meetings so they could formally present their proclamations to us. THANK YOU again to the following communities that proclaimed the week of September 19th as Childhood Obesity Awareness Week!  We are thrilled that so many local communities joined us on this growing initiative to bring awareness to Childhood Obesity.

Battle Creek, Brighton, Canton, Clinton Township, Flint, Grosse Pointe Woods, Jackson, Kentwood, Lansing, Lincoln Park, Midland, Muskegon, Novi, Port Huron, Saginaw, Southfield, Southgate, Troy, Warren and Toledo, OH.

We would also like to extend another special thank you to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder for declaring the week of September 19-24 Childhood Obesity Week. Our children deserve to live life healthy and happy – we commend Governor Snyder and our local communities on working to help ensure that they do!

childhoodobesityweek4

Photos from MWLC's Childhood Obesity Awareness Week pictured above. Clockwise from Top Right: City of Lincoln Park Mayor Frank Vaslo and City of Southgate Mayor Joseph Kuspa with MWLC President David Paull and MWLC Vice President Nick Welham.  City of Southfield presentation of Proclamation to MWLC President David Paull.  Troy Mayor Dane Slater with MWLC President David Paull and MWLC Vice President Nick Welham.  State of Michigan Childhood Obesity Awareness Week Proclamation.

Childhood Obesity Awareness Week - Week 3

It's the end of Childhood Obesity Awareness Week!  Medical Weight Loss Clinic would like to thank the following communities for joining us in proclaiming the week of September 19th as Childhood Obesity Awareness Week in Michigan!  Mayors from a few different communities stopped by our clinics to present our proclamations in person or invited us to council meetings so they could formally present their proclamations to us. THANK YOU to the following communities proclaiming the week of September 19th as Childhood Obesity Awareness Week!

Jackson, Troy, Warren and Port Huron

We are thrilled that so many local communities are joining us on this growing initiative to bring awareness to Childhood Obesity.

If you do not see your city listed, it’s not too late to contact your local city or township government to request a proclamation.  It's also not too late to enter the giveaway of a FREE ProTeen program!  mwlcgiveaway.com

jacksontroywarren-collage700x700

The Positive Impact of Gardening with Children

Updated: 5/22/18

Gardening provides a great opportunity for kids to play and grow, and can be a powerful tool in teaching children about nutrition.  With a little effort, you can create your very own garden at home!  The benefits of gardening are endless for kids, and encouraging healthy eating at home sets children up for a healthy future.  

Benefits of Gardening with Kids:

garden2

1. Gardening is a great learning experience for children.  Creating and maintaining a garden teaches kids about plant science, weather and nature.

2.  It encourages healthy eating by showing kids how fresh food is grown and then prepared into meals.  Children become invested in food that they garden themselves and have a sense of pride in the foods they have created, making them more likely to eat these healthy options.

3.  It teaches responsibility and the importance of caring for the environment.   It also teaches skills such as patience, planning and organizing.

4.  Gardening promotes physical activity.  Without realizing they are "exercising", kids are able to get physical activity by being outdoors weeding, planting and watering.

5.  It's fun!  Kids love digging in soil and getting dirty.  Gardening is also a great activity to spend time as a family.

Tips for Gardening with Kids:

garden1

1. Keep it simple!  Try planting a small bed of soil, or grow fruits and vegetables in an existing landscape in your yard.  If you don't have a lot of space or available land for growing, use small pots with soil for cherry tomatoes or fresh herbs. Use a trellis to grow vegetables like peas and beans.

2.  Use lightweight, easy, and small garden tools and equipment to keep children safe.

3.  Make a scarecrow.  Work with your children to create a fun, and creative version of a scarecrow for the garden.

4.  Select fast growing vegetables and brightly colored flowers to keep the attention of children.

Does your school or neighborhood may have a community garden?

CBS: Medical Weight Loss Giving Away FREE Pro-Teen Weight Loss Plans

By Dr. Deanna Lites@DeannaLites, September 22, 2016 11:55 AM

Childhood obesity is on the rise in this country. Now, a Michigan based weight loss organization is hoping to help young people in the state get healthy during National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

Medical Weight Loss Clinic is looking to help Michigan kids ages 10 to 17 lose weight. During the month of September, 31 medical weight loss clinics around the state will be giving away 930 Pro-Teen weight loss plans which includes medical and lab work, 10-weeks of weight loss services and nutritional supplements.

In Michigan, 12-percent of middle school children and 15-percent of high school students are considered obese. Eighteen-year-old Jake Stewart of Richmond was one of them. He says the extra weight interfered with his life.

“I couldn’t, like, keep up with my friends,” he said. “And then also, just looking into the mirror, I just wasn’t really OK with what I was seeing and I knew something needed to be done.”

That’s when Stewart was introduced to Pro-Teen weight loss plan.

“I lost 100 pounds and I did that with the Medical Weight Loss program,” he said.

jake-b-a

To receive a free Pro-Teen program, applicants must meet enrollment eligibility based on current program protocols. The Pro-Teen program is designed not only for weight loss, but also to educate young people on more sensible food choices and portion control, to help ensure a lifetime of healthy habits.

The program includes all medical set-up, lab work, 10-weeks of weight loss services and all nutritional supplements, and is valued more than $500 each. To apply, teens must complete a short entry form and describe in 100 words or less why they are interested in MWLC’s Pro-Teen weight-loss services.

Spots in the program will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis until Sept. 30 at mwlcgiveaway.com.

Original content can be found here http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/09/22/medical-weight-loss-giving-away-free-pro-teen-weight-loss-plans/

ClickonDetroit: Childhood Obesity Week Sept. 19-24

Originally posted on ClickonDetroit: 10:12 AM, September 21, 2016 Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has declared September 19-24 Childhood Obesity Week.

According to the State of Michigan, childhood obesity in the United States has tripled in the past decade; and one in three children are now considered obese or overweight.

Experts estimate that by 2020 approximately 15 million U.S. children will be considered obese; and at the current rate. It is estimated that one-third to one-half of the children born in the 21st century will become diabetic.  In Michigan, 12% of middle school children and 15% of high school students are considered obese.

Governor Snyder is encouraging parents to sit down with their children and teach them how to make healthier food choices, the importance of portion control and the value of exercise.

He also wants parents to recognize the efforts of such organizations as Medical Weight Loss Clinic in providing the resources and tools for Michigan youth to make healthy food choices.

Throughout the month of September, Medical Weight Loss Clinic will be giving away 930 of its special Pro-Teen plans to Michigan’s young people looking for help in maintaining a healthy weight.

“At MWLC, we recognize acutely the challenges people face at every age with healthy weight management,” said David Paull, MWLC president. “As a Michigan-based company, we want to take a stand in the fight against the obesity epidemic among our youth here at home. We’re hoping by making available our expertise, resources and support to nearly 1,000 families free of charge, we can help make a big difference for some of our young people.”

To receive a free Pro-Teen program, applicants (who must have proof of approval for participation from a legal guardian) must be aged 10-17 and meet enrollment eligibility based on current program protocols. The Pro-Teen program is designed not only for weight loss, but also to educate young people on more sensible food choices and portion control, to help ensure a lifetime of healthy habits.

Each clinic’s 30 free Pro-Teen programs – which include all medical set-up, lab work, 10-weeks of weight loss services and all nutritional supplements, and are valued more than $500 each – will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis from using an online entry system here.

Applicants must complete a short entry form and describe in 100 words or less why they are interested in MWLC’s Pro-Teen weight-loss services.

stateproc

Original article can be found here:  http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/childhood-obesity-week-sept-19-24

Sugary Beverages and Childhood Obesity

Updated: 8/22/18

Beverages that contain a high sugar content are a contributing cause to the epidemic of childhood and teen obesity.  What kind of beverages are your children consuming at school?

Sugar-rich drinks such as soda, sports and energy drinks, and flavored teas have become highly popular over the last decade, and particularly so among the young population.  The amount of these types of beverages that are being consumed, as well as the size of those beverages, has increased greatly.  Along with this increase, comes a larger risk for obesity, dental problems and diseases like type 2 diabetes.

One 12-ounce can of regular soda has around 150 calories, 40 grams of carbohydrate, and almost 40 grams of sugar!  These extra calories contribute to weight gain - and extra weight is the largest cause of childhood type 2 diabetes.

When suffering from type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal or the body's cells ignore the insulin that is produced.  Insulin is needed for the body to use glucose for energy.  One study has indicated that individuals that consume high amounts of sugary beverages have a 26% greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Reducing sugary beverage consumption can help improve glucose and insulin levels in children, in an effort to prevent childhood diabetes and weight gain.

Be cautious of fruit juice as well.  While fruit juice is often perceived as a healthy beverage, some juices can be just as unhealthy as soda.  The amount of sugar that a fruit juice contains may be as much, or more, than soft drinks and the benefits that come from vitamins in juice are outweighed by the amount of sugar.

sugarjuice

1. Pay attention to nutrition labels when grocery shopping.  Juices marketed as "100% Pure" or "Organic" may not necessarily be accurate.  Read the nutrition label!

2. Don't be fooled by the word "fruit".  "Fruit" is thought of as healthy food, and gives the mindset that items that use the word "fruit", are healthy.  Watch out for "fruit" products that are filled with added sugar and calories.

To avoid the negative effects that sugary drinks have on health, encourage children to consume sugar in moderation and to consume adequate amounts of water.  Promote healthy beverage choices at home and replace sugary beverages with water, milk or real fruit and vegetable juices.

Sources: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/33/11/2477

and http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/parents-and-kids/children-and-type-2/preventing-type-2-in-children.html

C&G News: Scaling Back on Unhealthy Habits

Scaling back on unhealthy habits: Experts weigh in on childhood obesity

By Cari DeLamielleure-Scott, Posted September 21, 2016

jake-b-a

METRO DETROIT — When 17-year-old Jake Stewart looked in the mirror, he didn’t like the person looking back at him.

“I wanted to start losing weight, but just working out in the past didn’t seem to do it,” the Richmond resident said.

Stewart, who is now 18, played sports in high school, but because he was “heavyset,” he said the exercise took a toll on his knees. And his diet — that consisted of frozen meals that he would “throw in the microwave or oven and eat.”

After discussing his options with his mom, Stewart joined Medical Weight Loss Clinic’s Pro-Teen program, which not only helped him lose 100 pounds in a year, but taught him to maintain a healthy lifestyle, he said.

“It was mainly proportioning my meals and making sure that I was starting every day with a breakfast of some sort,” he said.

Stewart also went to the gym daily, and as he started to lose weight, exercising was easier on his knees, he said.

“Anybody can really do it. It’s mainly a mental thing. You have to be willing to not eat as much. … Once you dedicate yourself to it, the results show.”

Childhood obesity rates in America have tripled over the past three decades, and nearly 1 in 3 children in America is overweight or obese, according to first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative.

“We know that over time there’s been a very large increase in the number of kids battling childhood obesity,” said Dr. Meg McKeough, a pediatrician with the Henry Ford Medical Center on Farmington Road in West Bloomfield. “It’s a very large problem, needless to say, and we are working on it both in the medical world as well as there are people hoping to see improvements across our country.”

A child’s energy input must balance with the energy output, and McKeough said poor food choices and the amount of time a child spends on screens can have a negative effect.

“The go-to thing is often not the healthiest thing,” she said. “That has created this perfect storm for making it a challenge to give our kids the best opportunity to stay or achieve a healthy weight.”

McKeough — who prefers to use terms like “healthy lifestyle” and “healthy weight” instead of “obese” — said that kids who carry extra weight are at risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, asthma, orthopedic/joint problems and self-esteem issues. McKeough introduces the importance of staying active and eating healthy foods to parents and her patients when they’re young. For instance, she said, babies and young children do not need juice or sugar-added beverages. She also promotes the nationally recognized 5-2-1-0 message, which translates to —per day —five fruits and vegetables, no more than two hours of screen time, one hour of exercise and zero sugar-added drinks.

“This is truly a family-wide message that if everybody works towards this, it could benefit everyone,” she said.

Stewart said his mom’s support while he was in the Pro-Teen program made a difference.

“There’s some days where you want to eat a lot of food, but there needs to be someone there to help you refrain from it,” he said.

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the week of Sept. 19 has been declared as Childhood Obesity Awareness Week in Michigan. Throughout the month, Medical Weight Loss Clinic — which is a board-certified, physician-administered weight loss program — will give away 930 Pro-Teen programs statewide. Each of the clinic’s 31 locations will distribute 30 plans on a first-come, first-served basis. The programs are for children and adolescents who are 10-17 years of age.

David Paull, president of Medical Weight Loss Clinic, said that childhood obesity is serious and life expectancies are decreasing. But, he said, this epidemic can be stopped, and illnesses like Type 2 diabetes can be prevented.

In order to qualify for the free Pro-Teen program, teens must fill out a form online with an explanation of why they want to lose weight, and they must meet specific qualifications.

“It’s so hard for anybody, but especially for teenagers, to lose weight,” Paull said, explaining that not only do teens need guidance in what foods to eat, but they need someone to help them keep track of their weight loss and their lifestyle.

“Unfortunately, for our teens, it’s really reliant on a parent or guardian who prepares the meals … and we try to incorporate the whole family so everyone can be a support system for the teenager,” he said.

McKeough said she believes there are some benefits to weight loss plans if parents and teens support each other in areas like grocery shopping and meal planning. The difficulty with child obesity, she explained, is that each child is different and has a different metabolism.

“You have to keep trying. Try something, but don’t get discouraged, and keep working at it. There’s a lot of good information, but parents just don’t know where to start.”

To apply for Medical Weight Loss Clinic’s Pro-Teen program giveaway, visit www.mwlcgiveaway.com.

Link to original article in full:  http://www.candgnews.com/news/scaling-back-unhealthy-habits-95960