7 Sneaky Ways Your Kids Are Hurting Their Health

Your children are your world, and you want to keep them healthy. Could they be unintentionally harming their well-being while your back is turned? Probably.  

As a parent, you need to know what signs of trouble to watch. Here are seven sneaky ways your kids are hurting their health and how to remedy each situation.

1. Eating Too Much Sugar 

Sugar is problematic for many reasons. It provides an immediate energy burst, which sounds terrific — but the devastating crash that follows leaves your kid craving more and more. More worrisome, though, is the endless sweets roller coaster ride sets your child up for Type 2 diabetes in two ways.  

Your body breaks down sugar into glucose and fructose, and most of the latter gets carried to your liver, where it gets converted to fat for storage. Overuse of this system contributes to fatty liver disease and insulin resistance. Both can trigger abnormal insulin production in the pancreas, spiraling into Type 2 diabetes.  

The sweet stuff doesn’t do your child’s pearly whites any favors, either. It spurs sticky plaque formation that provides the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease with a happy home. Far from a merely cosmetic issue, periodontal disease can let bacteria enter the bloodstream where it may affect your child’s cardiovascular and neurological health.

2. Relying on Energy Drinks 

Does your teen or tween seemingly live on energy drinks? Please don’t think that these beverages are harmless merely because you can pick them up at any Wawa or Piggly Wiggly. The caffeine in these products can prove deadly, especially if your child drinks one after consuming another beverage containing it.  

One 16-year-old collapsed at his South Carolina high school after drinking a Mountain Dew, a coffee and an energy drink within 40 minutes. The caffeine prompted an irregular heartbeat, and the unfortunate child died. While many parents have pushed for energy drinks to be regulated like alcohol, have this discussion with your kids until they are.

3. Spending Forever at a Screen 

2020 presented an interesting conundrum for parents — they couldn’t yell, “get off the computer already” when the reply was, “but mom, I’m at school.” However, too much screen time can harm your child’s health regardless of whether they’re studying algebraic equations or playing video games.  

Why is screen time so bad? For one, it contributes to childhood obesity, a condition already plaguing nearly 20% of America’s youth. Furthermore, exposure to the emitted light can cause headaches and disrupt melatonin production, making sleep difficult.

4. Staying Seated Too Long 

While it’s not true that sitting is the new smoking, it benefits folks of all ages to get up off the couch and move more often. Your 4-year-old is no exception.  

Young children need active playtime to develop their wee muscles and skeletons. Older children and adults need movement, too, for physical and mental health benefits. Regular exercise helps stabilize body weight, reduce stress and strengthen your heart.

5. Skipping Meals 

Parents often spend considerable time fussing over tots who won’t eat anything but mac and cheese — but they should show as much concern about their older kids. While the occasional skipped dinner after a grueling day of exams followed by soccer practice is no cause for concern, reluctance to sit down at the table could indicate an eating disorder.  

Probably the most frequently skipped meal is breakfast, and you might not think much of it if you have nothing but coffee in the morning. Still, you should know that a meta-analysis of six studies confirmed the correlation between eating breakfast and improved academic performance — you should still insist your kids have a morning meal.

6. Driving Themselves Too Hard 

American society places a high value on achievement, and the resulting pressure can drive some teens to bite off more than they can chew. In a frantic effort to get into the college of their choice, they sign up for multiple sports and clubs while trying to make straight A’s. Newsflash — adults aren’t the only ones who can burn out.  

Unfortunately, some parents reinforce this Type-A behavior, deriving their ultimate satisfaction from bragging about their super-kid. You want to recognize your little ones for their achievements, but it’s every bit as critical to let them know you love them simply for being who they are.  

Pay attention if your child’s performance begins to slip while they also grow cynical about their workload and academic prospects or develop physical symptoms like frequent head and stomach aches. Please encourage them to talk to you about their workload. If your child is younger, it might benefit you both to go through their planner with them and adjust the time necessary for each task. Frequently reassure kids of any age that you value them, even when they take off their superhero cape.

7. Keeping Their Feelings Bottled 

Teens can suffer from mental health issues. They also face pressures to engage in risky sexual behaviors or try drugs, but if they don’t feel comfortable talking to you about these issues, you might not know — until it’s too late.  

Create an open-door policy where your children feel safe approaching you about anything from bullying to alcohol use. Please don’t assume your kid “just knows” that they can talk to you — expressly tell them that they can confide in you about their problems without fear of punishment or losing your love. If they do confess to feeling depressed or experimenting with drugs, help them find the compassionate treatment they need.

Prevent These 7 Sneaky Ways That Your Kids Are Hurting Your Health

As a parent, you want to protect your children from harm. Please note these seven sneaky ways your kids are hurting their health and guide them toward improved well-being.