| August 2004 Missouri Regional Newsletter p3 |
| ACS NEWS |
| Schooling Kids for a Cancer-Proof Life
Practical Tips for Parents Parents will do anything to protect their children from a serious disease like cancer. But most don�t realize health habits that start in childhood and adolescence � like diet, exercise, and tobacco use � strongly affect a child's risk of cancer over a lifetime. Evidence now links two-thirds of the cancer deaths in the US each year to poor lifestyle habits, including tobacco use and excess body weight. With this new insight, parents can give their children the best chance of any generation yet for lasting good health. They'll need to start early, because lifestyle habits are often firmly entrenched by age 13. And parents will need to hang tough against multiple poor influences on children's diets and fitness levels. The facts and figures below outline the health environment and lifestyles of today's kids. Many kids start using tobacco by age 11, and many are addicted by age 14. The portion of teens who smoke is 17.8% in Florida where tobacco control is strong, and 34.2% in Kentucky where tobacco control efforts are weaker. Only 1 in 5 children consumes 5 servings of cancer-fighting fruits and vegetables each day � the minimum recommendation. Vending machines -- stocked mainly with soda, candy, and chips, -- are found in 9 out of 10 high schools. Teens drink twice as much soda as milk. Soft drink consumption has increased 500% in the past 50 years. 68% of children do not have daily P.E. classes. High school students average 1 year of P.E. before they graduate. A Columbia University study found 75% of parents of overweight kids thought their children were at a normal weight. Two-thirds of adults are now overweight or obese. Women's average calorie intake grew 22% in the 30 years ending in 2000; men's calorie intake rose 7% Even bagels have been supersized � growing from 150 calories to 300-400 calories before added toppings. What Parents Can Do With children, actions often speak louder than words. Incorporating healthful habits into your personal and family routines is the best way to establish lifelong healthy behavior. Consider the following guidelines and click on the blue links for practical, specific ideas. Don�t smoke. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to become smokers themselves. Talk to your kids about the dangers of tobacco use, and if you smoke, get help to quit. ACS Quitline -- 800-ACS-2345 -- provides free, personal telephone counseling to help quit. Methods for quitting cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco Quiz: Match smoking habits to quit methods Eat dinners as a family at home as much as possible during the week. Be a role model by serving and eating healthy foods with an emphasis on vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. When you do eat out, as busy families often do, seek out good menu choices even at a fast food place. Quick entrees, healthy recipe changes, how to eat more vegetables. Recipes: Greek Chicken, Sweet Potato Wedges, Breakfast Burritos, more. Buy nutritious snacks, such as fruit, low fat chocolate milk, and cut up vegetables, and have them easily available in your home. Healthy snacks and dashboard dining Fitting in more fruits and vegetables Limit TV viewing and have a family policy not to eat and watch TV at the same time. Create a home life that discourages weight gain. Does your child have a weight problem? continued on page 4 |