They say our future is in the hands of our children. The problem is what we, their parents, are putting in our children’s hands. To eat, that is.

A recent study states that one in every five of our nation’s children is overweight, and one in five is clinically obese. That means that 40% of the kids on your block are overeating and inactive. For a nation ostensibly obsessed with health and fitness, how can this possibly be the case?

We all know that our fast food, convenience-centric society has gotten many of us, Mom and Dad America, overweight to the point of super-sized waistlines and biggie-sized clothes. But what happened to Junior and Muffy? Why are the kids getting so overweight that they, as a demographic group [and future of our health as a nation, remember], are experiencing a huge increase in heart disease and diabetes, along with the sadness and misery associated with adolescent obesity? Infants are being born with borderline levels of elevated blood sugar and cholesterol and, if the current trends in improper nutrition continue, are on the fast track to being clinically obese at the age of five. FIVE!!

The same is true on the opposite side of that theory: if we choose to eat right and exercise, so too will they. No. I am not claiming it’s a perfect world where the kids gather round the table for tofu salad and soybean muffins-I’m more awake than that. But, if the ‘Fun-Foods’ are used sparingly, and proper nutritional habits are introduced gradually and systematically, the kids will, in fact, start to learn how to make better choices. Because you do.

I remember being a kid in the sixties and the advent of TV ads helping us understand how car crashes can kill us and littering is destroying our land. And how taking a little extra time to do the simplest things like throwing our garbage in the trash can will save the Earth, and buckling-up when we drive the car can actually save a life in a crash.

Those ads worked: I hardly ever see a driver throw a can out on the road, or a child not secured in a car seat, and when I do – I mean – when we, as a society do, we’re amazed at how ignorant those people must be. Imagine the thought of throwing a can out on a nice, clean highway! How rude!

Where are the ads showing our obese children facing years of treatment for symptoms of diseases historically experienced only by older adults? Or the confusion on their naïve faces when they’re not picked for the team, or when they’re made fun of at school. Yes, we’ve all seen segments on TV showing these grave concerns. And we all say what a shame it is, and that we really need to do something about it. Meanwhile, look to see what’s in your cupboard, and what sugar-ridden snacks they are snacking on.

Maybe, with increased awareness, we can all get the message out that our kids are suffering because we adults have fallen in love with the convenience of fast food and processed meals in a box. Look at your lifestyle choices for a moment and assess the effect, good or not so good, on your children. Help them understand why it’s important that proper nutrition and exercise are good choices for the entire family They’ll thank you down the road, and you’ll feel so much better about your health and their future.

Lifestage Fitness was created by combining the best attributes of most contemporary fitness centers with unparallelled personal fitness services.

Joe Ranieri is a 30-year veteran of the health and fitness industry, and is owner of Joe Ranieri’s LifeStage Fitness, an individualized fitness and nutrition training facility in suburban Chicago. Joe has helped hundreds of exercise enthusiasts of all ages and ability achieve their fitness goals using his simple, realistic approach to proper nutrition and exercise. Joe can be reached for questions regarding your desire for a healthy lifestyle through his email at joe@lifestagefitness.com.

Understanding that life-changes do not occur overnight, Joe Ranieri provides a real-world approach to making regular exercise and proper nutrition second nature – an easy, sustainable way to gradually, and permanantly, help you help yourself.

• 45 Day Slimdown - Part 1
• 45 Day Slimdown - Part 2
• 45 Day Slimdown - Counting Calories
• Surviving Fad Diets - The "Lose Weight Fast" Scheme
• Get Rid of Excess Fat - Part 1
• Get Rid of Excess Fat - Part 2

• Childhood Obesity - Leading by Example
• Childhood Obesity Step 1- Portion Control
• Eliminating Childhood Obesity - Do's and Don'ts
• Eliminating Childhood Obesity - More Do's and Don'ts

• Manage Holiday Eating - Part 1
• Manage Holiday Eating - Part 2
• Manage Holiday Eating - Part 3