Our children need us to show them how to maintain a healthy body and lifestyle says Johanna Griggs.

A couple of months ago I was asked by Anne Johnson to write the foreword for Bite Me - a book that details simple weight-management strategies for overweight children.
As it's a topic I feel very passionate about, I said yes immediately.

After all, we're well aware of the terrible obesity epidemic our nation is in the midst of. Now, some nay-sayers are trying to tell us our children are no more at risk today than they were many years ago.

Unfortunately, it's just not the case. The AMA - the Australian Medical Association - recently announced a lot more children are suffering from complaints usually associated with overweight adults. They're finding high blood pressure, liver disease and many type 2 diabetes complications such as kidney damage and heart disease.

I know I certainly see a lot more young overweight children now. The weight issue really hit home for me at a school concert I attended for my boys three years ago. I was struck by how many children from kindergarten to Year Six were really struggling with their weight.

There are lots of reasons why this is becoming such a big problem. One of the major causes, I believe, is the huge cost of living. Today, most parents are working just to make ends meet. And their kids are often watching TV instead of going outdoors and doing some exercise.

I know it's easy for someone to tell you to get your children out and playing sport. Sadly, for many of us, the cost of taking part is too much, especially once you include registrations and equipment.

Exercise is still free though. There are lots of ways you can increase the amount of exercise your children do without spending a single cent. It can be as simple as taking them for a 30-minute walk each day.

I've taught my boys we don't have to be totally abstemious to achieve this goal of healthy living and that the old rule of everything in moderation is generally a good one. But most
importantly, I've impressed on them that they're responsible for their own bodies. Quite simply, if we eat the high-fat, high-sugar option in the short term, our bodies will make us pay in the long term.

Parents can use Bite Me to help them get started. It includes weekly menus and practical exercises. The book is obviously making an impact already. Last week, Anne told me she'd been inundated with grateful letters from desperate parents who were seeking to make the lives of their children healthier and happier.
I have to admit I'm not completely surprised by the positive response.

Visit www.bitemebook.com to help your kids live a longer and healthier life.

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