The statistics are startling. The list of health implications long. Medical professionals, governments and families are responding. The following is a brief introduction to the problem of childhood obesity – and what we can do to help our children.
Contrary to the old saying of “it’s a small world,” our world is getting bigger – literally. Studies have shown that since 1980, childhood obesity has increased almost five times in developed nations, and tripled in developing nations. According to www.obesity.org, over 15% of American children are obese, and this number is continuing to climb.
Definition
Obesity is a chronic medical condition. While a certain amount of body fat is necessary for proper health, obesity is defined by an excess, and sometimes extreme, amount of body fat. A medical condition affecting children (0 – 18 years), childhood obesity is defined by a weight that far exceeds the healthy recommendation for age, height and sex.
Causes
Scientists and medical professionals continue to study the causes of obesity. Some have concluded that genetics may play a role in determining body weight, but most agree that health and lifestyle choices play a large role in determining body weight.
Acquired Obesity – According to the Calgary Health Region, “lifestyle changes such as an increase in the consumption of foods with low nutritional value, combined with a decrease in physical activity are contribution factors to the increased rates of overweight and obesity.” Children love junk food, and with our ever-increasing hectic lifestyles, fast food restaurants are a staple in the diets of many families. Excessive eating-out contributes to obesity in a number of ways. First – proportions. Restaurant proportions are often much larger than what is recommended for a healthy diet. Secondly – preparation. Many restaurants use pre-prepared foods, rely on frying, and are heavy on sauces and gravies. All of this adds to our world’s expanding waistline.
Combining poor eating habits with low physical activity doubles a child’s risk of becoming obese. Children are living ever-increasing sedentary lifestyles. A lot of this is attributed to modern technology. Children are spending an increasing amount of time in front of a screen: TV, computer, and video games. While children are encouraged to participate in sports, many families find the time and financial commitments associated with team sports to be overwhelming.
Heredity & Illness Related Obesity – Illnesses, such as hypothroidism (the under-activity of the thyroid gland), Cushing’s syndrome, depression and other neurological problems all contribute to childhood obesity. Furthermore, certain prescription drugs (i.e. antidepressants and steroids) may lead to a tendency for a child to gain excess weight.
Studies have also shown that children born to parents who are overweight or obese also tend to be overweight or obese. While many argue that this is the result of passing poor health and eating habits onto children, some argue that there is an inherited (genetic) predisposition for obesity. In the Journal of the American dietetic Association, Brian Wansink reports that parents influence up to 72% of the type and amount of food their children eat on a daily basis.
Health Effects
Overweight and obese children experience a variety of health conditions. These include, but are not limited to:
* Diabetes
* Glucose intolerances
* High blood pressure
* Heart disease
* High blood fats
* Increased cholesterol levels
* Cancer
* Sleep problems (i.e. sleep apnea)
* Poor self-esteem
* Depression
While there are many problems associated with childhood obesity, its diagnosis need not be a life sentence.
Recommendations
Health professionals, non-profit and governmental agencies around the world have taken notice of the alarming statistics associated with childhood obesity, and have started programs and offered recommendations to help combat this epidemic.
Healthy Diet – As noted previously, parents influence up to 72% of what and how much children eat. Therefore, to help children make good decisions, parents should model such decisions in their own lives. More often than not, children will follow the examples set by their parents. If your child is overweight, work with them to begin to make more positive health and lifestyle choices. Parents should never put their children on a diet, unless directed to do so by a medical professional. This is because diets limit the amount of foods consumed, including those needed for the proper development of children.
Meal Time – Create a schedule of healthy snacks and meal times for your family to follow. This will keep your family full throughout the day, and will help limit grazing on unhealthy food choices. Also, don’t allow children to eat meals while watching TV; instead, eat meals as a family. Finally, encourage your family to slow down meal time. Gulping down food and rushing through dinner hides our bodies’ nature hunger cues.
Exercise – By living an active lifestyle, parents model another healthy behaviour for their children. As a family, decide what physical activities appeal to each child and work towards incorporating them into your family’s health regimen. Remember, if children see their parents enjoying physical activity, then they are more apt to see it as something fun to do, rather than a chore.
Screen Time – Set an acceptable amount of screen time for each member of your family to have in a week. This includes TV, computers and video games. Time at the computer for homework and research counts as screen time, so make sure you stick to the selected amount of time allotted per week, despite the looming science project eating up most of the week’s quota.
Childhood obesity is being seen as a health epidemic around our world. While the potential health risks associated with childhood obesity are serious, the diagnosis need not be a life sentence. Making positive health and lifestyle choice changes as a family is the first step to overcoming this global epidemic – and helps prepare our children for long and healthy lives.
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