For most products and services, an increase in demand coupled with a lack of supply spells a price hike and a race to the store. It’s why fruits and vegetables cost more and more as summer fades into winter, and why the opposite occurs as winter turns into spring. It’s why lines form outside of electronic stores before the latest versions of varying games, gadgets and software hit the shelves. It’s why fakes – purses, glasses, Ferraris – are so prevalent and popular. And it’s why I just paid 35.00 to fill up my 10-gallon Ford Focus. It’s a pain, but for all of the above, we can cope. When the product is a doctor, however, the same may not be true.

Studies are finding that the number of pediatric endocrinologists in the country is not matching the number of children who need one. There are an estimated nine million obese children in the United States, putting at least that many at risk for diabetes. Approximately 229,249 kids already have the disease (type 1 or type 2), and if the numbers keep with current trends, they will only continue to increase. Meanwhile, there are a limited number of pediatricians who specialize in diabetes. In fact, there is only one for every 290 diabetic children. That’s quite a caseload, particularly if you add the children who don’t yet have diabetes but who are severely at risk. No doctor could handle it and still maintain an adequate level of care.

Does this mean that you should go back to school immediately and become an endocrinologist or if it’s too late for you, push your child into the field? If it’s your dream or his, absolutely! We could definitely use the staff, but if neither of you are bound for medical school, there’s something else you can do: work to prevent diabetes.

There wouldn’t be a shortage of doctors if there weren’t a flood of diagnoses. While some of the prevalence is due to genetics, much is not. The rise in childhood obesity is directly affecting the rise in diabetes. Work to maintain your child’s health. Keep them on a balance, nutritious diet. Encourage them to remain active, exercising and participating in lively games. Monitor their health, teaming up with their doctors to ensure that blood pressure, cholesterol and heart health are all what they should be. Stave off diabetes, and the minimal number of pediatric endocrinologists will be a minimal concern.

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Your stress affects you. That is a given. It not only keeps you up at night and anxious during the day, but also weakens your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to illness. However, that’s where it stops; it doesn’t extend beyond you. And so your motivation to take a deep breath, step back and calm down is fairly limited. Unfortunately, so is your understanding of stress.

When you had children, everything that used to apply solely to you - your paycheck, your habits, your wellbeing - stopped applying solely to you. Everything you did, and now do, began affecting them and that includes your stress. A study of 169 children and their parents found that the kids with the most emotionally anxious parents were more likely to become ill and more likely to have an increased number of immune cells in their blood. They were made less healthy by the anxiety teeming within their parents.

How’s the motivation to de-stress now? Are you ready, for the sake of your kids, to find better management methods and a sense of serenity? If you do, it’s likely that the toll your stress has already taken on them will dissipate, as children are extraordinarily resilient. And as they get healthier, so will you.

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Get them up; get them going. Turn off the TV; hide the Play Station. Push them out the door. Do anything!!

Those are the messages broadcast to parents, teachers and childcare givers in an attempt to boost physical activity among today’s youth. Children must move. They must fight the obesity epidemic with exercise, motion and active play. You’ve heard it a million times, and you’ve complied as much as possible. You’ve all but locked your kids outside, hoping to inspire a good hour of old-fashioned romping. But after five minutes, when the thrill of circling the house has worn off, their little faces are pressed up against the window, asking “Mommy? What should we do now?” You sigh. You’d forgotten about the decided lack of playground equipment in the yard. You’ll have to get some, but what? Should you shell out hundreds of dollars for a fancy, multi-faceted jungle gym, or is there an alternative route?

There is, and it’s better! While stationary equipment, such as climbing structures, balance beams and swings, encourage activity, simple, cheaper toys like hula hoops and balls do so to a higher degree. In a study of 20 childcare centers throughout North Carolina, researchers found that those equipped with indoor and outdoor portable play toys, provided children with more opportunities for moderate to vigorous activity – opportunities the children happily took advantage of. The most active kids had an average of 80 more minutes of movement and 140 fewer minutes of sedentary time.

So hop in your car and head to the nearest toy store (or even the dollar store!) and pick up a few balls, jump ropes and hula hoops. You’ll get your kids moving, harder and longer, with a minimal amount of wallet pain. Of course, if you’re dreaming of the backyard tree house complete with rock wall, purchase it. The climbing and swinging will help develop motor skills. But to make sure that your little ones keep the pace high, throw a few portable toys in there, too.

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As your child grows into adulthood, he will leave behind much of what you currently see in him, much of what defines his youth. His sweet voice will evolve into the deep timber of a man’s. His naïve innocence will be replaced with realistic awareness. And his dependence on you will transform into self-reliance. But much of what is there will also remain. He won’t lose his sense of humor, his intelligence, his empathy, his sociability, his twinkling brown eyes, his quick smile or, unfortunately, his cardiovascular concerns.

A study of more than 800 children over 30 years found that those who had metabolic syndrome in youth were infinitely more likely to have it in adulthood. They were also 13 times more likely to have heart disease and 6.5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The troubles that had plagued them in youth followed them into adulthood, making their health-potential much less than what it could have been.

To ensure that your baby boy grows into a strong, healthy man, take a closer look at his health now. Assess, first and foremost, his weight. If he is still growing, the pounds should continue to increase, but in line with the inches. If his height barely budges, his waist should follow suit. If he’s finished growing, not about to get any taller, he shouldn’t get any wider either. And of course, if he is currently obese or largely overweight, you may want to consider a weight-loss program. Talk to his doctor about what would be best and while you’re there, have the doctor check out your son’s blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride and insulin levels. If they’re high, you need to work on lowering them.

Your child should only take the good things into adulthood, not the bad. See that he does.

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The thought of spring during those final days of winter brought nothing but happy warmth. You envisioned chirping birds, budding blooms, sunny days and hours upon hours of outside time . . . for your kids! The moment you could, you were sending them out the door to expend the energy that had been mounting since December and its first frigid afternoon. They would run through the backyard doing whatever they pleased (within reason) as you journeyed to the front yard and reveled in the beauty of spring. When they finally came indoors, they would be spent, crawling into bed without complaint, providing you with one more reason to love the season. It was a beautiful plan that included everything . . . except for allergies.

Up to 40 percent of children are affected by allergies.  While they may occur at any time, spring is the most severe season, eliciting sneezing, itching, nasal congestion and discharge. Children are driven mad by the symptoms, unable to sleep at night, focus during the day or engage in outdoor activities – the very events you had been dreaming of.  Although medications are offered, they don’t always work, forcing many parents to routinely switch treatment plans and leaving children unaided.

If you have a child with springtime allergies, it’s important that you try to minimize the effects of the season. Talk to her doctor now, so that you can determine what medications are available. When you settle on one, if it doesn’t help, don’t be afraid to speak up. Meanwhile, limit pollen exposure and keep a pack of tissues handy. You may not be able to eliminate your child’s allergies but you can prepare for them.

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According to Merriam-Webster a treat is “an especially unexpected source of joy, delight, or amusement.”  This would imply that such an item would appear rarely or at least, irregularly in daily life. It wouldn’t be an anticipated aspect of every day but rather a welcome surprise.

Now, how do today’s children define treat?  It may be easier to tell you how they don’t define it. Eighty-two percent do not believe potato chips are a treat. More than half feel the same way about sweets, meaning that chips and candy are a regular part of their lives, tickling their taste buds often enough to be ranked with chicken.

What does this say about our and our children’s diets?

Chips are a junk food, loaded with grams of fat and sodium, two things that kids need but in moderation and from sources other than fried crisps.  And candy, well candy is essentially packaged sugar that can offer a sweet reward for eating all of your vegetables or finishing your dinner, but clearly, it’s present more often than that. And if these two items are no longer viewed as something special, what is? What is left to be defined as a treat? Fruit? Vegetables?

Children need a diet that is dominated by healthy foods. They need to consume an adequate amount of all substances, including fat, from items such as meat, whole grains and dairy. This is not to say that treats should be eliminated from their diet. They should simply remain treats, bites of pleasure that are unexpected rather than commonplace. Redefine your child’s view of a treat; make it what it once was and what it always should be.

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Towards the end of your pregnancy, you start to wonder if the child inside of you will ever come out. It feels as if you’ve been carrying a 30-pound load for a decade and you can barely remember what your shoes look like on. But when you think about labor, you remember all that it entails. Okay, you concede, maybe you can hold off for a little while longer. Twenty-four hours of excruciating pain doesn’t exactly sound like a day in the park. You wonder if there is a way to both give birth to the child and avoid childbirth. So when the doctor suggests that you have an elective caesarean, your first question is when? Can it be done tomorrow? In fact, you’ll hop on the table right now, if he’ll let you. But before your excitement has you performing the operation, think about your baby.

Having an elective caesarean too early in the pregnancy can hinder the child’s development. Studies have shown that the less time the mother and doctor wait, the more likely it is that the infant will suffer from respiratory problems. While these difficulties are not often severe and can be rectified with oxygen therapy and an incubator, it’s not how you want your child’s life to begin. Wait until after your 39th week to select the elective caesarean. And when you do, make sure you’re doing it for the right reason.

Elective caesareans are recommended for women who have serious pre-eclampsia or a preexisting medical condition, who are giving birth to triplets (or more), whose baby is turned, breeched or too large for the birth canal, or whose placenta is positioned across the womb’s neck rendering natural childbirth impossible. However, many women are opting to have the operation because they fear vaginal delivery. They had a negative experience during their first birth or know of someone who did. While the decision calms their anxiety, it may harm the child. Talk to your doctor about all of your options. You may have to wait a little while longer to see your baby, but it will be worth it. 

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Isn’t childhood obesity a crying shame? Isn’t it just awful how parents let their children accumulate pounds and pounds of fat without doing a thing? What a relief that you don’t have to worry about weight problems with your own kids. How nice that you are aware of their health and size as many adults are not. Speaking of which, where are your kids? Is that them in your living room, watching their sixth episode of Hannah Montana with a bag of Cheetos each and waistbands that rival their more than rotund grandfather’s? What were you saying about their weight?

While nearly all parents acknowledge that childhood obesity is a growing trend, few are aware of the problem’s existence in their own homes.  They rarely admit that their children are slightly overweight, let alone obese, which is certainly alarming. If the weight epidemic plaguing our youths is going to be conquered, action needs to start at home. We can’t rely solely on our schools and communities to offer better foods and more opportunities for movement; we have to provide both as well.

Remove your blinders and assess your child’s weight. If he is overweight or obese, you need to start taking the steps necessary to rectify that. Limit television time (less than two hours).  Encourage at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity, but do not worry about making him sweat gallons. What’s important is the amount of movement, not the intensity (although you should aim for moderate to vigorous rather than snail-pace).  And offer nutritious foods instead of junk. If you lessen his weight, you’ll also lessen his risk of developing high blood pressure and poor cholesterol. And the next time you’re standing at your backyard fence commenting on the atrocities of negligent parents and childhood obesity, you won’t have to worry that your own offspring will label you a hypocrite.

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Parenting is a shared job. Mothers and fathers must split the responsibilities; both must change diapers, quiet midnight wails and clean up messes. It is the only way to create a well-balanced, harmonic atmosphere. That being said, some duties can only be conquered by Mom. Dad cannot breastfeed nor can he give birth. Only Mom can do that, just as only Mom can create a love for fruits and veggies before fruits and veggies even appear on the highchair.

Studies have found that if mothers eat copious amounts of fruits and vegetables while pregnant, their children will be less likely to have an aversion to said foods. The flavors, which are bitter and naturally disliked, will be transmitted through the amniotic fluid, creating an early exposure that should offset some of the distaste.  The effect is furthered if mothers continue to consume produce during breastfeeding. Like the amniotic fluid, the milk’s taste carries hints of the fruits and vegetables. Again, the repeated exposure lessens the trauma of the first bite.

Once the baby does get to the initial spoonful, repetition is key (and this is where Dad can start paying attention again).  A child may grimace when he first samples green beans, but that does not mean they should never again be offered. The frown, furrow and look of horror are innate reactions that won’t keep an infant’s mouth from opening. If the spoon is put in front his face, he will eat from it. Eventually, he may even enjoy it. His palate will grow accustomed to the taste, and before you know it, you’ll have a fruit and veggie eater. Just remember: start early and stay strong.

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Children emulate the adults around them. Little girls slip into Mommy’s heels and skirts, wiping on grievous amounts of lipstick and blush. Little boys wrap Daddy’s tie around their neck, carting around briefcases and tools. Both repeat curses, mimic actions and absorb opinions, vocalizing them at the most inopportune times. As such, we silence angry retorts and minimize negative behaviors. We recognize that our vices will be noted and aped by the little ones at our feet and adjust. But sometimes, we fail to do the same for our healthy habits, a misstep that should be rectified.

Children who have active parents are more likely to be active. When a mother takes the time to exercise during pregnancy and when either a mother or father regularly exercises during a child’s youth, that child grows up with a slightly greater likelihood of exercising himself. He sees what his parents have been doing and copies it, maybe not exactly but to a degree. He hops on his bike when he goes to a friend’s or opts to play outside rather than spend an hour in front of the TV. He adopts healthy habits, which lead him into an adulthood less likely to be clouded by obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

The lesson, then, is that you, as the parent, should make sure that you are living a life worth copying. As you limit your curses, maximize your exercise. Get off of the couch and move. I know that the pressures of parenthood, work and life can tire you, making a workout a torturous suggestion but the boons will be far greater than if you spend the evening in front of your computer. You will not only increase your health, but your child’s as well. You will create a well-rounded, active family with a bright, boisterous future. 

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Not too long ago, the outcome of a pregnancy was determined post-birth. If the infant was born healthy and hearty, all parties were thrilled. If the baby had medical problems, well, nothing could have been done prior. You had to cope with it as the child developed, out of the womb. Today, that’s not the case. Advancing medical technology has allowed us to closely monitor the wellbeing of mother and child throughout all stages of pregnancy. We can determine the child’s gender, look for abnormalities and head off complications, all thanks to science. It is a godsend, but is it one we’re relying on too much?

In the past ten years, the number of imaging scans performed on pregnant women has increased by 121 percent.  If this included only ultrasounds (a procedure that exposes the patient to no ionizing radiation) or had increased in conjunction with the number of deliveries, there would be no cause for concern. However, it did neither. Births are up by only seven percent, and the tests performed range from CT scans to nuclear medicine scans and x-rays.  CT scans alone, the highest source of radiation, have risen by 25 percent a year. Fetuses are being exposed to a level of radiation that could hinder development on a startlingly frequent basis.

You have to consider all of your options before you have one of these tests done. In some cases, they may be the best method - the only way to confirm the presence of a blood clot, tumor or internal bleeding.  But in other cases they may not be. There could be an alternative way to make a diagnosis or determine treatment. If there is, choose it. Your child will be exposed to plenty of chemicals and radiation throughout his life. Don’t start the process before he is even born.

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The teen years are laced with drama. Girls and guys alike are plagued with rampant hormones, social pressures and mountains of insecurity. Doubt fills every corner of their lives from what they’re wearing to who they’re talking to and how they’re doing in school. But perhaps one of the most pressing concerns for today’s adolescents is physical appearance, particularly weight.

There is an inordinate amount of focus on size - a focus that isn’t restricted to health but to social and emotional wellbeing, as well. Teens feel the need to shrink or grow to the expected and accepted body size. If they don’t, they will be ridiculed and looked down upon, by themselves if not their peers, on a regular basis. As such, they often rely on detrimental weight-control techniques, including purging, bingeing, fad diets and diet products. Today, both males and females succumb to eating disorders at rates considerably higher than a decade ago. They turn an unhealthy overweight into an unhealthier under-weight, missing the middle ground - the place of physical and mental wellbeing.

As a parent, you must monitor your teen and ensure that weight loss, if necessary, be achieved in a healthy, safe manner. Start by offering your support but avoid comments that focus on the ideal, being fat or being thin. Your goal is health not size. Encourage nutritious eating and more activity, but don’t push it. Obsessing over a treat or forcing a hated activity will only instill negative thoughts in your teen. Instead, allow the occasional diet splurge and help your child find an exercise that he enjoys. And finally, stay positive. Weight loss is difficult at any age, but in adolescence, when there are already so many other stressors (hormonal and otherwise) it can be even more frustrating. You want to help keep the self-esteem up and the weight down, not the other way around.

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Imagine if we treated every temporary and replaceable aspect of our bodies as unimportant or negligible. We would rarely wash our hair, reaching for the shampoo only when the mounting grease was too much to bear. Our nails would be long, chipped and decaying, but we would rationalize their ill health by noting that, eventually, they would break off and new ones would appear. It is a disgusting and irrational thought. One that currently has me thinking about hair-washes and manicures. However, it is only a slightly distorted version of what we actually do to a different temporary part of our bodies: our teeth, specifically our baby teeth.

Tooth decay among children has risen by four percent in the past several years. Youthful mouths are filling more and more readily with bacteria, opening the door for oral infection and impaired permanent teeth. We are viewing baby teeth as replaceable and are transferring that view to our kids, who are failing to properly care for their mouths. As adults, it is our responsibility to rectify this. We have to teach our children that baby teeth, although a temporary presence, are important. We have to help them take the steps necessary to maintain oral hygiene in youth. That means starting before the children are able to do it themselves, before the teeth appear and even before the little ones are born.

While pregnant, a mother should carefully monitor her own oral health. Bacteria caused by decay could transfer from her to the baby, putting the child at a disadvantage from the start. Once born, an infant’s mouth should be cleaned after every feeding with a water-soaked washcloth and gauze pad. When the first tooth appears, brushing, with a small toothbrush and pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste, can begin, and parents can start looking for a dentist. A child should see a dental hygienist within six months of his first tooth or by his first birthday. By birthday two or three, that child should start learning proper brushing techniques; however, parental guidance will be needed until age seven or eight. Parents should also emphasize the importance of smart food choices. Healthy, nutritious selections will minimize the likelihood of tooth decay.

Baby teeth may not last long, but the effects of their health or lack there of will. Care for them.

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Every morning at 7:55 am, Nick Jr. airs Mini Movers, a two minute segment, (in the U.K. only) designed to get toddlers out of their seats and active. The program currently involves a Weather Dance entailing moves such as “tickle the sky” and “jump to the sun”. With giant grins plastered on their faces, the kids wave their arms, spin around and sing along. Having watched a clip, I can’t deny that I was at least somewhat inspired to “stomp the snow down low,” and it’s logical to believe that a child may be moved to do the same.  However, is this addition to the television lineup one we should truly celebrate?

Kids are already watching too much TV. The screen lights up every morning and evening, rendering even the most hyperactive child zombie-like for at least thirty minutes. An exercise segment will theoretically end the coma but only if the children recognize it as an actual call to move and not another sit-through, musical show. Programs like The Wiggles are filled with songs and dances. Although the children are invited to join in at home, that doesn’t always happen. Most kids just watch. And even if they do participate are the means justifying the ends or are we mistakenly teaching our children to view exercise as a brief interlude in a sedentary lifestyle?

Activity should be a natural part of every day. It should come about in play and daily routine, particularly for younger children. We shouldn’t have to include