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Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child?
We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!
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The My Overweight Child blog will help you keep informed about the latest research, findings, and resources available to parents of overweight or obese kids. There are many knowledgeable people working on the increasingly dire problem of childhood obesity - and we want to give parents a place where they can check in regularly to see the latest studies and tips available to help you help your child lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
We invite you to add your comments - if you have feedback for the blog, would like some specific topics covered, or you just want to share your experience as a parent dealing with childhood obesity.
Though obesity rates for kids haven't been released yet, the rates for adults show promise. Based on surveys and physical examinations of about 4,400 adults, it appears that obesity rates are beginning to plateau. That's good news considering the fact that rates have steadily increased since the 1908s. "In generalizing the results to the U.S. population, researchers calculated a margin of error that swallows up the differences between years. In other words, the increases were not considered statistically significant." The new report compared four years' worth of data. Read more at LATimes.com. Labels: health_care, healthy_living, obesity_rates
A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that most cases of hypertension in children and teens are going undiagnosed. Hypertension has become more prevalent due to the dramatic rise in childhood obesity. "The study reported that of 507 children and adolescents with hypertension, just 131 had a diagnosis of that condition or high blood pressure in the medical records. The study also found that if a pediatrician did not recognize the problem, it would be years before it was diagnosed and treated, resulting in unnecessary end-organ damage." Because children who are overweight or obese are especially at risk for high blood pressure, it should be checked at every doctor's office visit. Labels: health_care, heart_disease, hypertension
On Thursday, November 29th, the National Institutes of Health launches its We Can! program across the Unites States. We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) is an educational program aimed at helping young people ages 8 - 13 develop and maintain a healthy weight. "We Can! offers parents, health professionals, youth, and community groups evidence-based programs and activities to help children ages 8 - 13 maintain a healthy weight. The program targets parents and caregivers as the primary groups for influencing youth and focuses on three important behaviors: improved food choices, increased physical activity and reduced recreational screen time. "The national event begins in Boston with eight other cities nationwide hosting related events. Labels: federal_programs, healthy_living, weight_loss
Teens whose mothers worked when their children were ages five to seven years old are more likely to be fat, according to a study from Bristol University in Great Britain. If mothers work during their children's "mid-childhood" or ages five to seven years, their children have increased risk of obesity by age 16. The study found no similar link between mothers who worked when their children were under five or over seven and teenage obesity. The authors of the study theorized that ages five to seven years are critical time in a child's life for learning healthy food choices. A recent American study found a link between maternal employment and childhood obesity. Labels: influences, studies, working_mothers
On average, Americans prepare home-cooked meals just two to three times per week. The rest of the time it's drive-thrus and take-outs. We have our reasons; "it doesn't cost that much more," "it saves me time," etc. But the truth is that eating out not only costs money, but can cost us - to some degree - our health. "So if you don't gain time or save money by grabbing takeout, what benefits do you get from cooking at home? 'You'll eat better, cheaper and fresher at home,' [Meredith] Deeds said. 'You control portion sizes, and the content and quality you're providing your family,' said [Niquenya] Fulbright. She said these issues can be especially important in an era of rising childhood obesity." Cooking at home also teaches children how to prepare and enjoy healthier meals, and gives the family some important quality time together. Read more at JournalStar.com. Labels: cooking, fast_food, healthy_eating
As concern over childhood obesity increases, more and more parents are choosing sit-down restaurants over their high-fat laden counter-parts; fast-food. But one look at a restaurant's kids menu and you realize that many sit-down restaurants offer the same unhealthy options. But there are ways to eat out and still ensure that your child's meal is healthy. "One way to foster good eating is to ask for substitutions with the kids' meal, and say no to the 'bottomless soft-drinks' Christian said. Better yet, forgo the kids' menu and share your healthier adult meal with your child, she said." Helping kids develop a taste for healthy foods now means they'll be more likely to make healthy food choices in their adult years. Labels: childhood_health, fast_food, healthy_eating
A study of L.A. area communities has found that children are more likely to be obese if they live in an area with high poverty rates. The report was based on information provided by the California Department of Education for the 2004 - 05 school year. "Among the communities with a student study group of 500 or more children, Maywood, which has a much higher poverty rate in the Los Angeles County, had the highest prevalence of childhood obesity, with 37 percent of children in that city considered obese, while Manhattan Beach, an affluent area, was found to have the lowest level of childhood obesity at 4 percent." The availability of parks and of healthier food are keys in the fight against obesity, and poorer communities have little of either. The report recommended that planning committees incorporate health-related strategies in their decisions, improve access to and safety in recreation areas, and collaborate with schools to provide more opportunities for students to engage in physical activities. Labels: affluence, influences, poverty
The Health Commissioner of the European Union launched the "European Day of Healthy Food and Cooking", as a way to promote healthy eating and living amongst children. Fourteen member states are participating in the Day, sponsoring activities that range from cooking demonstrations by top chefs to workshops promoting a healthy lifestyle. "Commissioner Kyprianou said 'Good habits practiced from an early age are more likely to continue into adulthood. Through this partnership with Euro-Toques, the Commission aims to promote the importance of healthy eating to children in a fun and interactive way. Encouraging children to enjoy healthy eating and physical exercise is the best investment that we can make for their future." One of the events was an interactive cooking lesson hosted by four professional chefs in Brussels, who talked with 60 children about the benefits of eating well. Labels: healthy_eating, lifestyle, nutrition
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona is launching its third consecutive Walk On! program, an initiative designed to promote healthier living among school children. In its first two years, the programs saw thousands of students take billions of steps, literally, toward more active lifestyles. "BCBAZ has enhanced the Walk On! Challenge for 2008 to inspire even more Arizona fifth-graders around the state to walk. Enhancements include Walk4Life pedometers, subject-specific lesson ideas selected from submissions by teachers statewide and more incentives for participants." Last year, 10,000 students participated in Walk On!, and walked more than 3 billion steps. Labels: exercise, fitness, healthy_living
Three American universities conducted studies on the eating habits of youngsters. They found that kids whose families eat together regularly were healthier. "Children who regularly have meals with their parents, according to a recent article in the New York Times about the research, 'eat more fruits, vegetables and calcium-rich foods, ingest more vitamins and nutrients, and consume less junk food.'" Though it's tough to make time for family meals, it's worth the effort. Labels: family meals, healthy_eating, healthy_living
A school district in Central New York State has become the second in the state to ban cupcakes and other desserts from birthday celebrations. The school has also begun to replace soda with milk and sandwich rolls with whole wheat bread. Surprisingly, few kids mind the change. "'I like everything except for the cheese,' said Scott Huynh, 10. 'Cupcakes make you really fat, and vegetables keep you going longer, and also you won't die early if you eat them.' Jake Temple, 10, said he didn't really miss eating cupcakes. 'The vegetables actually taste kinda weird, but they give you more energy than fatty food.'" Some students and parents, however, think the ban on birthday sweets goes too far. The general sentiment among the group is that, while limiting sweets is important, having a cupcake at a birthday celebration isn't going to cause obesity in anyone. Labels: dessert, nutrition, schools
Brenner Children's Hospital in North Carolina is opening the region's first program focused specifically on obese children. The program is called FIT (Families in Training) and will be led by Joseph Skelton, M.D., who comes from the Medical College of Wisconsin. "The Brenner FIT program will provide comprehensive, holistic, family-centered medical treatment for morbidly obese patients in the region,' Skelton said. 'Our program is comprised of medical care, research, community education and outreach. Early next year, we hope to include a surgical component to Brenner FIT as well.'" Skelton and his team are also part of the Collaborative to Strengthen Families and Neighborhoods, which was developed as a "learning lab" for developing possible solutions to child health issues. Labels: education, hospitals, pediatricians
Surgery is becoming an increasingly popular recommendation for the morbidly obese. The challenge is that surgery alone is not enough to make a lasting difference in someone's life – or weight. "Although patients have a smaller appetite following the surgery, Ms Mathewson discussed their emotional needs surrounding food, and other psychological issues related to their eating habits such as body image." People who struggle with obesity often have extremely low self-esteem, are depressed and socially withdrawn. If not addressed, these traits can continue even after a successful weight-loss surgery. Labels: lifestyle, obesity surgery, weight loss surgery
A federal pilot program that's been running in 14 states may be expanded across the country when the nation sets its agricultural policy for the next five years. The program makes fruits and vegetables more readily available in school lunch programs and is being heavily lobbied for by the United Fresh Produce Association. "'Kids eat way less than half of the total fruit and vegetables they need to eat for good health,' said Lorelai DiSogra, a nutritionist at United Fresh Produce Association, which represents fruit and vegetable growers. 'If you can make fresh fruits and vegetables available, kids are going to eat it.'" A program expansion would make as much as $225 million available, making it easier to expand the program beyond its current pilot stage. Labels: healthy_eating, nutrition, schools
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