Dads set example for healthy habits

Donya Betancourt, Pediatrician/drdonya@hotmail.com

The father is a role model for not only his son but his daughter too; thus fathers set an example for their children to follow when forming their own health habits.

Through words and actions, fathers have the opportunity to pass on healthy living strategies to their children. Dads taking care of their own health first will ensure children put theirs first too.

What you eat affects your health, just as what your children eat affects their health. A healthy diet as we know includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other low-fat foods which can lower the risk of many chronic diseases and problems, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, strokes and some types of cancer.

As a parent, a dad has a major influence on his children's lifelong eating habits. The types of food he provides, his attitude towards food such as portion size and food preferences all affect children's eating habits.

One way to encourage healthy eating is to establish family meals. Eating together as a family tends to increase the number of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy products children eat. And children who eat with their family on a regular basis tend to consume less fat.

Exercising regularly and staying physically active can help prevent or delay some diseases and disabilities as we grow older. In some cases, regular exercise can improve health if one already has a disease or disability.

Physical activity can also help maintain a healthy body weight, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost psychological well- being. This means that you'll have more energy, feel good about yourself and possibly prevent conditions that could even decrease your time with your family.

Physical activity also provides a way to engage your children. Go for a bike ride, play a game of basketball or take swimming lessons together. If you're active, your kids will more likely be active. And you'll do them a favor by helping them develop important health habits.

Whether you're biking, driving to a relative's house or playing in the park, ensure your safety and your children's safety. Accidents are the leading cause of death among children aged one to 15 and it's the leading cause of death in boys and men aged 16 to 44.

Make sure your children travel safely. Always use restraint systems such as safety seats, booster seats or seat belts and make sure they're appropriate to your children's sizes.

To prevent head injuries, always wear a helmet when biking. Insist that your children do the same. In fact, children whose parents wear helmets when biking or in-line skating are more likely to wear helmets themselves.

You might think your smoking doesn't hurt anyone else. But it does. Besides causing serious illnesses in the smoker, such as cancer or heart disease, smoking also hurts other people who breathe the secondhand smoke. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are much more likely to get ear, sinus or lung infections.

Secondhand tobacco smoke can also impair the development of children's lungs and may cause lung cancer. Also, children with asthma who live in a household where someone smokes experience a greater number of asthma attacks and more severe asthma symptoms.

Ventilation systems in homes can't remove all of the hazards from the air. Similarly, blowing smoke away from your children, going to another room or opening a window doesn't remove all the risk of secondhand smoke.

Besides affecting your health and your children's health, smoking may also increase the chance that your children will smoke later in life. In fact, children who live with smokers are two to three times more likely to smoke themselves when they become teenagers.

So dads take these steps so that you're around to enjoy your children and grandchildren. Control any chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. See your doctor regularly and schedule the recommended screening tests.

Don't ignore persistent symptoms or wait until the problem gets worse before seeing your doctor. Remember, diagnosing health problems early increases the odds for successful treatment. Show your children that you care about your health, and they'll be more likely to care about their own.

Dr. Donya