According to the US Dept of Health and Human services, childhood obesity is a growing (no pun intended) problem.
  The number of adolescent and pre-adolescent children with obesity concerns has increased to double and triple the amount in the last 25 yrs.
  There's certainly no shortage of advertising touting the latest fad diet, fat burners and shake mixes, but it makes one wonder whether any of these so-called solutions are safe for children.
Children and teens, who are overweight or obese, as a general rule, don't tend to reverse that trend as they age.
  In fact, chances are pretty good that they'll end up developing high cholesterol, cardiovascular problems, hypertension, respiratory problems, and especially type 2 diabetes.
  The fast food routine, coupled with lack of exercise, is a recipe for health disaster.
  Each year the amount of food consumed away from the family dinner table, and the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks taken in by teenagers goes up and up.
  Even when kids do eat at home, the work schedules of moms nowadays sometimes results in less nutritious, but quicker meal preparation.
Because of dangerous side effects with most prescription drugs, you should probably consider a nutritional supplement for your overweight child.
  But what are the questions you should ask before heading out to the pharmacy or dialing that infomercial number?  Or is there a better solution?  * Does the product have enough research to be endorsed by the medical profession?  Check out the credentials and reputation of the company.
  Have clinical trials been conducted to prove its effectiveness, and are the results readily available to show to your healthcare professional?  Is the product qualified to be listed in the Physicians Desk Reference, the manual of most healthcare professionals? * Does the product address cardiovascular problems and diabetes as well as weight control?  Knowing that the overweight child will be at higher risk for developing these conditions as they age, this should be a consideration.
  Does it just concentrate on weight, or does it help control cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well? * Is the emphasis with the product on fat loss, as it should be, or simply how much weight can be lost and how quickly?  The real emphasis should be on reducing the fat.
  Transitioning to burning fat naturally as an energy source is the way the body was designed to work.
  The weight will eventually come down.
  Check clothes size, more than the scale.
* In order to make sure the child uses it consistently, is the product pleasant tasting, and convenient to take?  It should be something that can be used when eating out as well as at home.
  And it can't have a terrible taste.
Childhood obesity is a serious problem, and deserves a serious, but safe solution.
  It's been reported that the children born in 2003 are the first ones that are not expected to live as long as their parents.
  That's a pretty scary thought.
  But it's not too late to do something about it.
  Our children's health  is at stake.
  And of course, it's always a good idea to consult your healthcare professional about any serious health concerns of children.