Childhood Obesity
Not Just A Fat Or Lazy Problem
By Helen Thomas
Last week, I wrote to you about the dangers of using Statin drugs to lower cholesterol in high-risk children (”The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! NOT Statin Drugs“), and because I’m devoted to helping our children achieve balance and health in their lives, this week, I’m continuing my three-part series on the topic of childhood obesity.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS NOT JUST A “FAT” OR “LAZY” PROBLEM!
I’ve encountered so many people 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 children eat too much junk food or of not encouraging their children to be more active. What better example of this stereotype is there than the infamous glutton “Augustus Gloop” and his mother, a woman who proudly supports his overeating, in the popular Willy Wonka movies?
AUGUSTUS GLOOP AND OTHER OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE THEIR DOSHAS CHECKED!
Even the most active children with proactive parents can struggle in the fight to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Rather than shame children or stuff them with “diet” foods (or worse, drugs and chemicals), we should employ safe, natural Ayurvedic methods to gently guide them toward a healthier lifestyle.
The first step on this path is determining your child’s dosha.
“DOSHA” WANT TO KNOW 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 three forces (doshas) to keep them in the right relationship with each 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 more effective way of responding to his or her physical, nutritional, spiritual and emotional needs.
Here’s a quick and handy list you can use to determine which dosha your beautiful and unique 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 always moving
• Eat lots of small 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 good 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 hard, nap hard
• A “model employee”: like to do important jobs and do them right!
THE KAPHA CHILD:
• Participate joyfully!
• “I’m not ‘It’!”: observers rather than leaders
• Memory masters: will remember every fact and repeat them if you ask
• “I’d rather be playing”: napping takes a backseat to fun
• Very contented overall
• Watch out for imbalance: can become very possessive of Mom, Dad and his or her belongings
NOW YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD’S DOSHA. THE NEXT STEP?
DIAGNOSE THEIR WEIGHT PROBLEM!
About the Author: Dr. Helen Thomas Add Ayurveda to your wellness Knowledge Base! Go to http://www.effortlessayurvediclivng.com Sign up for weekly ezine and get FREE book on Ayurveda |