Some studies state that children who have Down syndrome have
a higher risk for developing obesity but don’t really have answers about why
that is the case. There are several factors that play into this issue, first,
the old mentality was that children with Down syndrome could not learn and
therefore the only thing they could do was to sit in front of the television
for hours on end or more recently, spend hours on electronic devices. Of course
nowadays many more people are aware that individuals with Down syndrome are
capable of achieving anything their heart desires as long as “we” raise our
expectations of what they can do, and don’t put limitations on them.
The fact remains that even when your child is active they
could still struggle with weight issues and this is often due to medical
complications. People with Down syndrome often have Thyroid issues which can
lead to overweight conditions and so it is important that they have regular
checkups, including blood tests to determine thyroid activity and while you are
there, check for gluten intolerance which is another possibility of weight
gain!
Many families have expressed that their child has a habit of
overeating and does not seem to experience or at least recognize the sensation
of being full and therefore continues to eat long past what would be considered
an appropriate amount of food. This is difficult to control but can be managed
with behavioral strategies and monitoring the availability of food sources,
especially those foods considered in the “unhealthy” category. Make sure that
fruits and vegetables are readily accessible and not being replaced by too many
refined carbohydrates. Another big issue is eating out! Too many families have
become so busy that they eat out much more frequently and fast food is
definitely a factor in this issue.
Since summer is here and if your kids have the traditional
school system, that means almost 3 months of entertaining, keeping them busy
and prying them off electronics (if they are addicted to those!) It is important
to keep our kids and (ourselves for that matter) active for optimum health
benefits, weight control and mental acuity. Society has realized the importance
of exercise/physical activity and now we see campaigns to promote participation
in active lifestyles in the media through various advertising efforts.
Layton City is very
mindful of keeping our children active and have for several years now offered a
G.O. Tag program for its residents, the acronym standing for “Go Outside” and
play. You can go to the website here: http://laytongonplay.com/g-o-tags
to find out more information. The program lists over 40 different activities
that your child can do during the summer to get them outside! After they have completed
the activities, they can visit the Layton City Park and Recreation Office to
pick up their reward! Each participating child gets their own lanyard and can
collect their tags which represent the activities they have participated in,
for example: Kite flying, Bug watching, Park Hopping, Game Nights, Star Gazing,
Dog walking, just to name a few!
Many other cities have also adopted a similar idea and so
call your local Parks and Recreation to see if they have a G.O. Tag program in
your area. Some cities require that you are a resident in order to participate
in the program and so be sure and check into the rules for each city! The tags
are a great idea as they offer an incentive for kids to reach goals and see how
many tags they can earn while actually spending time outdoors. You can offer
your own incentives as well but if you need ideas, visit the website for over
40 things you can do to enjoy the summer and the health related benefits that
come as a result to mind, body and spirit! The main thing is to “Go Outside and
Play,” no matter what it is you choose to do!
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