Type 2 Childhood Diabetes PreventionThe New England Journal of Medicine reported that this is the first generation of young Americans expected to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents or grandparents. While that prediction by a group of university researchers is getting a lot of attention, others disagree. Whether it is true or not we are all acutely aware of the health issues young children are facing. Obesity has tripled in the past 25 years. Health professionals are warning that type 2 diabetes is on the rise. In fact, children as young as 10 and 11 are now being diagnosed with this disease, which was until recently only associated with adults. We know physical activity is one of the keys to preventing disease. However, in this pill happy society too often the first reaction by parents wanting to help their children is to request medication. While, that may be appropriate here is another thought: Don't just treat the symptoms and look for a quick fix. Instead we must look for a long-term solution and that requires a change of lifestyle. Encouraging and modeling a lifelong physically active lifestyle should be the top priority in the joint efforts among parents, schools and medical professionals to help reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes. With clear scientific evidence of the positive role of physical activity in enhancing glucose transport, one may question why so much time is spent on the secondary medical treatment of diabetes rather than on the primary lifestyle preventive approach to diabetes, which is active engagement in physical activity! GYMTRIX teaches kids an active lifestyle that will have a lifelong impact on good health!
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