Print Article for : Obesity In American Children

Your Online Guide » Guide to Women » Breast Cancer

[O8]Obesity In American Children

by Lily Morgan, Lil

Cancer is something which devastates thousands of families every year. Not only are there the countless victims who tragically lose their lives to the illness, but countless lives are blighted by diagnoses which may not be immediately terminal but will pose a real threat to the quality and comfort of sufferers' lives. It is a condition that only needs to be named to send a shiver up the spines of anyone who has known it. It is all the more disturbing when cancer attacks a child. For anyone who has lost a family member to cancer, or seen how it can prey on the body of even someone who survives, it is something that no-one would want to see twice.

The American Children's Society is a charity set up to help child sufferers of cancer and their families. By raising money to pay for treatment and other necessities they allow the child and their family to concentrate solely on trying to recover from the dreadful illness which has visited them. The truth of the matter is that without the help of the American Children's Society there are many families who would be unable to join the battle with their children's illness anywhere near as successfully as they presently do. The Society has in recent years helped out in raising donations and providing support in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as well as its help for families suffering as a result of a child's cancer diagnosis. It is still, however, cancer that remains the major focus of the American Children's Society, especially in the light of certain quite shocking statistics.

Each year, for example, more than 12,000 children below the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Before their adult life has even started, this means that they have to deal with an illness that attacks very aggressively and requires an incredible amount of strength to fight it. An illness that leaves adults comprehensively broken, and which attacks more than 35 children every day. And yet there are survivors, there are people who manage to break the stranglehold of the horrible illness that is cancer and go on to live completely normal lives, thanks in no small part to organizations such as the American Children's Society.

Among the many excellent initiatives run by the ACS, there is a campaign of automobile donation which allows drivers to gift their old cars to the charity for use in their fundraising and logistical efforts to take the fight to the road and beat children's' cancer. These vehicles allow the Society to assist families with transport needs, equipment and various other aids which can make a huge level of difference to a child's recovery. It is necessary that organizations like the American Children's Society can do the work that they do, because every year the number of children who are diagnosed with cancer increases. One day the tide will be turned back, but it will require the help of organizations like this to ensure that this is the case.

A recent study from Penn State has found that American children are drinking insufficient amounts of milk and the dairy they are choosing to consume are very high in fat. The study examined a children's daily dairy intake and compared it with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid dairy recommendations. The findings revealed that only 2 to 3 year olds met the MyPyramid dairy recommendations. It was also observed that most children choose to eat more of the highest fat varieties of cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and dairy based toppings.

Assistant professor of nutritional sciences, Sibylle Kranz, claims that "While there is calcium in fortified orange juice, it is not as bioavailable as that found in milk." She also adds that "Although the recommendations are all for low fat dairy, people are still consuming great amounts of whole fat dairy products." Researchers found that 43 to 51 percent of dairy consumed by younger children was from whole fat sources and only 5 to 11 percent were from non-fat dairy. Older children consumed 35 to 36 percent from whole-fat dairy and 11 to 13 percent from non-fat dairy foods. Researchers believe the additional calories found in whole-fat versus reduced-fat dairy products can add to the current problems of childhood obesity.

A cup of milk provides 250 to 300 milligrams of calcium and 32 percent of the calcium is bioactive and used by the body. Soy milk and fortified orange juice at 300 milligrams of calcium are only about 25 percent available. Dairy products are the best sources of calcium for children, but Kranz notes that low fat-dairy like yogurt, milk, and cheese should be emphasized. She suggests that non-fat, non-sugared flavored milk products with a little cocoa powder or blended fruits could be one way to introduce a calcium rich, low-fat dairy source to children.

Article Source : Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment

About Author

Both Lily Morgan & Empoweredd are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Lily Morgan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Concerns, Team Building and Family Concerns. Add to your miniature collection, or start a new one! Come see our large selection of and accessories. Visi. Lily Morgan's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.

Empoweredd has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Allergies and Health Care. To find more relatd articles please visit and. Empoweredd's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.