One of the more common and probably more overlooked problems involving children is obesity. Obesity, which affects approximately 20 percent of children, is defined as weighing greater than 20 percent of ideal body weight. The numbers are also getting worse. Over the last 30 years, there has been a 54 percent increase in obesity in children ages 6 to 11, and a 39 percent increase in children ages 12 to 17. Another important statistic is that an obese preschooler is only 25 percent likely to remain obese, while an overweight adolescent is 75 percent likely to remain obese. As with almost any medical condition, the causes are multifactorial and the solutions many. There are a few real medical causes, but less than five percent of childhood obesity is associated with hormonal or genetic defects of metabolism. This article will focus on the social and behavioral factors contributing to obesity as well as the medical complications of being overweight.
Obesity can cause harmful conditions in children, including elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, increased rates of diabetes and respiratory illness, and skin and orthopedic problems. It is well documented that hypertension, elevated cholesterol and diabetes are significant risk factors for coronary artery disease. Preliminary studies show that the coronary arteries of children reveal early signs of heart disease. Studies also prove that the correlation between obesity and high cholesterol is real, even in children. It is now recommended that cholesterol levels be checked after the age of two. Insulin resistance increases with more fat deposits. This is why obesity is linked to the incidence of diabetes. Family history of the above risk factors is very important so if these diseases run in your family, you should begin prevention early in childhood.
Of considerable concern is the psychological stress of obesity. Unfortunately, other children as well as adults can treat overweight individuals in a negative, unhealthy manner. Since a child’s identity is formed early in life, the view of his or her body image can be imprinted even in early childhood. I certainly want to say that being overweight does not mean a child is unhappy or psychologically unhealthy. Again, this article wants to make the strong point of the health consequences of obesity, as well as the unhealthy lifestyle that our modern age of junk food, television and lack of exercise contributes to its cause.
The top three causes of weight gain in children are as follows: 1.) television; 2.) television and 3.) television. OK, this is not exactly true but I want to make the point that watching television has become a major problem with our kids. Steven L. Gortmaker of the Harvard School of Public Health was quoted as aying, “One of the major forces leading to increased obesity is the tremendous amount of time youth spend watching television. They spend as much time in front of the television as they spend in school.” Other than the mind-numbing effects, television watching simply means the child is not exercising! Children naturally have a higher energy level and a higher metabolism. Physical activity is supposed to be a big part of youth. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that inactivity was more detrimental than excessive food intake. Unfortunately, physical education is being phased out of the school curriculum. A study recently showed that only the state of Illinois requires daily p
Poor diet is a major contributing factor in obesity. Good eating habits, established even as early as the toddler stage, play an important role in preventing obesity throughout youth. Parents have the most control over what our children consume. In general, there should be a decrease in the amount of fatty foods in the home, with less than 30 percent of dietary calories from fat. Parents are advised to set designated times for each meal, with all meals served at the table. To encourage healthy eating habits, parents choose what the child will eat and the child gets to decide how much to eat. If the child feels he is not pressured, the likelihood of successful completion of the meal rises, along with easier acceptance of new foods as they are introduced into the diet. However, it is stressed that even overweight children should not be banned from an occasional high-calorie snack.
TheShapedownPediatric Obesity Program (415/453-8886) is available for children ages 6 to 20 in all 50 states.
I want to again reiterate that simply being overweight is not the main concern but more so the unhealthy lifestyle of poor eating habits and lack of physical activity that contribute to weight gain. Even if the weight loss is difficult, I still would encourage a healthy lifestyle. By helping your children, maybe you can help yourself lead a healthier lifestyle.
