Childhood ObesityProblems, Causes & Solutions

by

Eddie & Krista

A Growing Crisis

“In the past three decades, the number of overweight children has more than doubled, with most of the increases occurring during the past ten years.” - Rallie McAllister, M.D.

Implementing prevention programs and getting a better understanding of adequate treatment is important to controlling this obesity epidemic.

What’s the Big Deal?

I Don’t Want to Grow Up

25% of children who are obese at age 6 will be obese as an adult

75% of children who are obese at age 12 will be obese as an adult

Effects on the Child

Physical Consequences

Type 2 Diabetes– used to be virtually

unrecognized in adolescence

– almost entirely attributable to obesity

– obese children are reported to be 12 times more likely to have high fasting blood insulin levels

Orthopedic complications

– bone and cartilage in the process of development are not strong enough to bear excess weight

Hypertension– Elevated blood pressure

levels have been found to occur about 9 times more frequently among obese children

Social Difficulties

Obese children…– are stereotyped as “unhealthy, academically

unsuccessful & lazy”– may be teased or verbally abused by other

children– can become excluded from being a part of social

groups and/or other activities

Psychological Problems

Discrimination can cause a negative self-image and poor self-esteem

Sadness can occur, which can lead to depression

Loneliness Eating disorders

– more prevalent in females

People who are obese or overweight People who are obese or overweight also have a lower life expectancyalso have a lower life expectancy

A 40-year-old nonsmoking male who is overweight will lose 3.1 years of A 40-year-old nonsmoking male who is overweight will lose 3.1 years of life expectancy; one who is obese will lose 5.8 years. A 40-year-old life expectancy; one who is obese will lose 5.8 years. A 40-year-old overweight nonsmoking female will lose 3.3 years of life expectancy; overweight nonsmoking female will lose 3.3 years of life expectancy; one who is obese will lose 7.1 years.one who is obese will lose 7.1 years.

How to Tell If Your Child is Overweight or Obese

Indicators

Growth Chart– height and weight can be compared and plotted

Skin fold thickness– measured at the triceps with a caliper that pinches the skin

and together and will be higher in obese children

BMI (Body Mass Index)– is best measurement to take because it is age and gender

specific

What is BMI?

BMI is used to identify overweight and obesity in children

BMI = weight (kg)/height (m)² For children, BMI is age and gender specific

and is consistent with adult index, so it can be used continuously from two years of age to adulthood

Are you at risk?

The Center for Disease Control avoids using the word “obesity” for children

Instead they suggest two levels of overweight:

1.) 85th percentile: At-risk level (overweight)

2.) 95th percentile: Severe-level (obesity)

What does the 95th percentile BMI score mean?

Correlates to BMI score of 30, which is the marker for obesity in adults

Indication for children and adolescents to have an in-depth medical assessment

Identifies children that are likely to have obesity persist into adulthood

Is associated with elevated blood pressure and lipid in older adolescents which increases risk of diseases

Increase in obesity among American youth over the past two decades:

. Prevalence of Obese

Children (Ages 6 to 11) at the

95th percentile of Body Mass Index (BMI)

1999 to 2000 15.3%

1988 to 1994 11%

1976 to 1980 7%

Prevalence of Obese Adolescents

(Ages 12 to 19) at the95th percentile of

Body Mass Index (BMI) 1999 to 2000 15.3%

1988 to 1994 11%

1976 to 1980 7%

What are the Causes?

The Family Atmosphere

According to the American Obesity Association, parents are the most important role models for children.

Obesity tends to run in families– Eating patterns play a role

Children of active parents are six times more likely to be physically active than kids whose parents are sedentary

Television & Nutrition

Commercials feature many junk foods that promote weight gain– fast food, soft drinks, sweets and sugar-

sweetened breakfast cereals

Children seem to passively consume excessive amounts of energy-dense foods while watching TV

The typical American child spends about The typical American child spends about 44.5 hours per week using media outside 44.5 hours per week using media outside of school.of school.

Pick-up or Delivery?

Today, families eat fewer meals together and fewer meals at home– Children tend to eat more food when meals are

eaten at a restaurant– Plenty of children eat fast food on a regular basis– Take-out food like pizza or chinese is also popular

Between 1977 and 1996, portion sizes grew in the Between 1977 and 1996, portion sizes grew in the U.S., not only at fast-food outlets but also in homes U.S., not only at fast-food outlets but also in homes and restaurantsand restaurants

One study of portion sizes for One study of portion sizes for typical items showed that:typical items showed that:

– Salty snacks increased from Salty snacks increased from 132 calories to 225 calories132 calories to 225 calories

– Soft drinks increased from Soft drinks increased from 144 calories to 193 calories144 calories to 193 calories

– French fries increased from French fries increased from 188 calories to 256 calories188 calories to 256 calories

– Hamburgers increased from Hamburgers increased from 389 calories to 486 calories 389 calories to 486 calories

Setting Standards

The United States Department of Agriculture developed the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in 1946

The NSLP provides lunches to over twenty-six million children every school day

The lunches must meet the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

– 30% of calories from fat– no more than 10% from saturated fat

Bending the Rules

In the mid-1990s, the USDA researched the relationship between children’s dietary intake and the school lunch program

The results showed that on an average day, NSLP participants consumed more sodium and cholesterol than non participants

Students who participated in the NSLP ate more calories in the form of total fat, as well as saturated fat

– the total percentage of fat for NSLP participants was almost 37%, with saturated fat at over 14%

Food Pyramid & School Lunch

On average, NSLP participants ate only 0.1 servings of whole grains and poultry

0.0 servings of dark-green leafy vegetables, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds were typically consumed

Vending Machines

Soda– each 12-oz (though now most are 20-oz) sugared

soft drink consumed daily increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%

– risk of lack of calcium if students choose sweetened drinks with no nutritional value instead of milk, a good source of vitamins, minerals and protein

In 1977-78, drank aboutIn 1977-78, drank about four times four times as much milk as as much milk as soda. In 2001-02, they drank about the same soda. In 2001-02, they drank about the same amounts of milk and sodaamounts of milk and soda

Vending Machines

The Center for Science in the Public Interest took a survey of vending machines nationwide in middle and high schools (2004)

The results found that the majority of options were high in calories and/or low in nutrition

– in middle school vending machines, 73% of the drinks and 83% of the snacks sold were of poor nutritional value

– in high schools, 74% of beverages and 85% of snacks were nutritionally-poor choices

– only 12% of available drinks were water

A La Carte Selections

Resembles fast food– Hamburgers, French fries & pizza

Do not meet the USDA fat recommendations A recent study published by the American

Journal of Public Health suggests that about 35-40% of students reported only eating snack bar items for lunch over the two year study period

Simple Solutions

Keys to Preventing Obesity

Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is important since change becomes more difficult with age

Education in physical activity and nutrition are the cornerstones of preventing childhood obesity

Schools and families are the two most critical links to decreasing the prevalence of childhood obesity

Parent’s role in Prevention

Create an active environment– Limit amount of TV watching– Plan active family trips such as hiking or

skiing– Enroll children in a structured activity that

they enjoy

Parent’s role (cont.)

Create a healthy eating environment– Implement the same healthy diet for entire family,

not just selected individuals– Avoid using food as a reward or the lack of food

as a punishment– Encourage kids to “eat their colors;” (food bland in color often lack nutrients)– Don’t cut out treats all together, think in

moderation, or kids will indulge

Schools Are Only Exercising Our Minds

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:– Nationwide, approximately 56% of high

school students were enrolled in a physical education class and only 29% attended PE class daily (1999)

What Should Schools Revise?

POLICY– Schools should establish policies that require

daily physical education and comprehensive health education in grades K-12

– Schools and government should provide adequate funding, equipment, and supervision for programs that meet needs of all students

What Should Schools Revise?

ENVIRONMENT– Provide adequate school time for physical

activity American Heart Association recommends 30-60

minutes of vigorous activities at least 3-4 times each week

– Discourage the use or withholding of physical activity as punishment

It’s as Easy as Cake…

THE

END