National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month is in September, and it is dedicated to educating
children and their families on how to prevent childhood obesity. It is also an excellent
opportunity for parents to learn more about how they can help their children’s health. We are
constantly challenged as parents, teachers, and caregivers of young children to find ways to
prevent childhood obesity.
For good reason, childhood obesity has been dubbed “one of the most serious public health
challenges of the twenty-first century.”. Childhood and adolescent obesity have reached
epidemic levels in the United States, affecting the lives of millions of people. These numbers are
truly scary: In the 1960s and 1970s only 13 percent of U.S. adults and 5 to 7 percent of U.S.
children were obese. Since that time, the prevalence of childhood obesity has more than
doubled in children and tripled in adolescents. The latest data from the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey show that the prevalence of obesity among US children and
adolescents increased to 22.4% in 2020. Obesity puts a child at risk for a variety of medical
issues later in life, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and
joint problems. So the risks we are placing our children at today will be affecting our healthcare
for decades to come. The purpose of this month’s awareness then is to educate the nation on
obesity and encourage people to join in efforts to help children overcome this disorder.
A logical question is to ask- why have these numbers accelerated at such an alarming rate over
the past 50 years? There are many complex reasons for this; but I am going to point to two of
the most obvious. The simplest answer is because of the Food we are now consuming. Globally,
there has been an increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugars. Think
back to when we were kids… who was eating a steady diet then of fast food and high sugar
snacks all day? The answer was NO ONE. Now however, it is hard pressed to find any child who
is eating a well-balanced diet including salads and fresh fruits and vegetables. And this doesn’t
even begin to address portion sizes. Let’s just look at soda as an example. The average serving
size of a soda was 6 and a half ounces in 1950, and increased to 12 ounces in the 1960’s and 20
ounces in the 1990’s. Currently, 24 and 32 ounce sodas are marketed, with a 32 ounce soda
containing approximately 400 calories and about 100 grams of sugar.. or about24 teaspoons!
The consumption of soda by children has increased throughout the last 20 years by 300
percent. Fifty to more than 80 percent of children consume at least one soda per day and 20
percent of children consume more than four per day. Scientific studies have documented a 60
percent increase risk of obesity for every regular soda consumed per day… so you do the math!
A second reason for the alarming jump in obesity numbers is due is the increased sedentary
lifestyle of children. School-aged children spend most of their day in school where their only activity
comes during recess or physical education classes. In the past, physical education was required on a
daily basis. Currently, only eight percent of elementary schools and less than seven percent of middle
schools and high schools have daily physical education requirements in the U.S.
Children are also more sedentary outside of school, which is due to increased time spent doing
sedentary activities such as watching television, playing video games or watching hours of
mindless videos on Tik Tok. Only 50 percent of children, 12 to 21 years of age, regularly
participate in rigorous physical activity, while 25 percent of children report no physical activity.
The average child spends two hours a day watching television, but 26 percent of children watch
at least four hours of television per day.
Studies indicate that when children watch more than two hours of television per day there is a
significant increased risk of obesity as well as high blood pressure. Studies have also
determined that children who eat in front of the television consume higher fat and salt
containing foods and less fruits and vegetables than children who do not eat in front of the TV.
So now that we are all totally depressed with what is happening to our youth- let’s see if we
can’t at least begin to make a dent in this epidemic. As parents we are of vital importance in the
treatment of pediatric obesity. Parents act as role models for their children regarding nutrition
and physical activity. It is extremely important for an overweight child to see the parents being
an example of what they want their child to do. Treatment needs to be family-based and
individualized. By obtaining a good dietary, physical and lifestyle history, areas of potential
concern for that child and family can be identified and then addressed.
So let me leave us with some tips to help change a family’s lifestyle, nutrition habits and activity
level:
Lifestyle
Eat as a family.
Slow down the eating process.
Have special family time that is physically active.
Limit eating out or getting take-out food.
Pack lunch for school instead of buying lunch.
Do not have a television in the child’s bedroom.
Limit computer time to a maximum of 1-2 hours per day.
Do not eat in front of the television.
Do not use food as a reward.
Nutrition
Eat healthy, well balanced meals and snacks.
Plan meals and snacks in advance.
Offer the child a choice of healthy foods to eat.
Limit intake of calories from beverages.
Eat appropriate portion size for the child’s age.
Limit calorically dense foods (i.e. high fat, high sugary foods).
Limit treats, but do not eliminate them.
Physical Activity
Encourage daily physical activity.
Have a variety of physical activities that can be done.
Be physically active with others.
Limit sedentary activity.
It is obvious that this is not a simple problem that will have an easy solution. But just as with
any major problem- Acknowledging that there IS a problem is the number one priority.
Realizing that we all take responsibility for this issue and that we need to engage our youth, our
community leaders, as well as our State and National leaders is the only way to begin!