Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

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.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Recession May Cause Kids to Gain Weight

Almost a third of American children are overweight, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Now a new report says they may grow even heavier during the recession.

"There is concern with 'recession obesity' apart from the general trend toward an increasing number of obese American children," said Dr. Kenneth Land, director of the Child Well-Being Index, a project that tracks how American children fare in terms of education and health.

Dr. Land, a professor at Duke University, said that parents often substitute less expensive foods with high carbohydrate and high sugar contents when money is scarce. This kind of diet is related to the increasing numbers of overweight children.

Dr. Land's conclusions are consistent with the findings of others who have explored the link between obesity and poverty.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, overweight children, economics

Posted By: Aspen/CRC