Canadian Kids Thinner Than Ours – What’s Up With That?

Does fat stop at the Northern border?  A new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that about 17.5 percent of U.S. kids aged 3 to 19 are obese, compared with just 13 percent of Canadian kids the same age.

WebMD.com says the reasons are unknown and I might add that neither moose burgers nor hockey play a role, but something is going on because obesity rates in both the U.S. and Canada were about the same in the late 1970s

at about 5 percent. Both countries also experienced a steady increase in childhood obesity through the 1980s and ‘90s. But by 2004, the U.S. started to exceed Canada in childhood obesity.

Whether you’re from Canada or Connecticut, there are some things you may be doing to sabotage your efforts to lose weight.

CBS News reports on the Seven bad habits that could be wrecking your diet.

--Skipping meals: It does not promote weight loss, only a slower metabolism and poor choices later. In fact, skipping meals could be directly related to an increase in belly fat, which can lead to a number of health problems, including heart disease and diabetes.

--Eating on the go: It seems like you’re saving time, but dieters who ate on the go, while walking around the office, are more likely to overeat later in the day. Researchers think if you are distracted --as with walking-- it disrupts our ability to recognize the amount of food we're eating and notice when we feel full.

--Late night snacking is usually not a result of true hunger and can result in overeating. "Late-night snacks are usually associated with boredom, mindless eating or emotional eating," Restrict your food intake to an 8- to 12-hour period during the day to help yourself prevent high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity.

--Eating out: Fast food isn't the only culprit. One study found that dining at full service restaurants is comparable to --and in some cases, even less healthy than-- eating at a fast food outlet. Experts suggest cooking meals at home whenever possible and planning ahead before you eat out. Check out the menu before arriving at the restaurant to choose the healthiest option; asking for sauces and dressings on the side; and sticking to baked, broiled, grilled, or steamed dishes.

--Eating too fast: Gobbling down your food too quickly can lead to overeating because it doesn't give your body enough time to realize you are full. Experts say pacing yourself during meals is key to maintaining a healthy weight.

--Cleaning your plate: Portion sizes have gotten bigger over time, and if you encourage kids to rely how much food is on their plates or the time of day, they'll lose the ability to rely on internal cues to know whether they're hungry or full."

--Shopping while hungry: In addition to having a meal or snack before food shopping, make a shopping list and stick to it.