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

Teenage boys who get insufficient sleep are at risk of becoming overweight or obese, according to a new study from Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute.

• Dr. Leslie Lytle studied 723 teenagers in terms of their sleep habits, heights and weights, risk for depression, physical activity levels, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Boys who got fewer than eight and a half to nine hours of sleep were at higher risk for overweight and obesity, but there was little association between weight and sleep for girls.

"Maybe girls are better equipped to deal with environmental stress," said Dr. Lytle. "They just biologically respond differently."

This study was presented at a meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.
 

Labels: sleep, boys, teenagers

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 2 Comments

Overweight and obese children can benefit from summer weight loss camps, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics.

Dr. Nadim Kanafani of St. Louis University studied children ages 10 to 18 years old in a weight loss camp that offered three balanced meals and two snacks, physical activities, and classes in nutrition and self-esteem. The campers lost an average of eight pounds.

Dr. Kanafani noted that the camp could provide a nurturing environment where children can interact with others with similar issues and thereby help each other in a treatment model similar to the one that works for drug addiction. The children felt more comfortable working out physically with other overweight children.
 

Labels: campaign, summer_camp

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 1 Comment

The Connecticut State Senate has approved legislation that bans soda from the state’s schools. The legislation is part of the state’s overall attempts to obesity among children and teens.

“Schools would not be permitted to sell regular to diet soda or electrolyte replacement drinks such as Gatorade under the bill. A narrow exception would allow sales at concession stands at school-sponsored events on weekends or after school.” (Source: Norwalk Citizen)

Schools will only be allowed to sell milk, soy or rice milk, and fruit and vegetable drinks in vending machines. The bill faced strong opposition by those who feel the state has no right to dictate food and beverage selections in local school districts. Governor M. Jodi Rell is expected to sign the bill into law.

Labels: sodas, schools, prevention

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 2 Comments

Across the country, parents, teachers and health professionals are weighing in on the best ways to prevent childhood obesity. Recently, the Obama Administration offered 70 recommendations aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

“Missing from the plan are any proposals to raise taxes on sugary drinks or snacks. But the strategy does include specific benchmarks for making progress toward cutting the obesity rate, including a goal of increasing the breast-feeding rate from 30 percent to 50 percent. Breast-fed babies are less likely to become obese, according to research.” (Source: Des Moines (IA) Register)

The plan also calls for more families to apply for food stamps, adding five million kids to federal school meal programs, and increasing incentives for farmers to produce more fruits and vegetables.

Labels: childhood_obesity, government, prevention

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

Two nonprofit organizations that encourage children to walk to school and get more exercise found that many parents may have misplaced priorities.

• Their survey of 1,000 parents of primary school aged children found that more parents worry about stranger abduction and murder than whether their children are physically fit.
• Only 5% feared for their children's health in later life due to insufficient physical activity.
• Half the parents underestimated the amount of physical activity every child needs.

These misperceptions can lead to serious problems, as parental influence on kids' activity levels can be significant.

"The findings from the survey by Parentline Plus and Living Streets indicate that stranger danger and road traffic accidents are real concern to parents and caregivers of primary school children who choose to drive their children to school," said Jeremy Todd, chief executive of ParentLine Plus.

"We are deeply concerned that the number of children walking to school is dropped to an all-time low," said Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Living Streets. "It is certainly not wrong for parents to fear road accidents and abduction, but it is wrong that fear for children's health is on the back burner."

He noted that children have a one in a million chance of being killed by a stranger.
 

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 0 Comments

The United States Agriculture Department launched a contest for video designers to come up with games that children can play to teach them about nutrition and exercise. The contest is part of a government initiative led by First Lady Michelle Obama to combat childhood obesity.

Some in the videogame industry said the challenge was difficult, because they were used to designing games only for entertainment.

"Games with ulterior motives are a lot harder," said Joel Gonzales, of the International Game Developers Association.

Alex Fisher-Lasky, working at George Mason University, agreed.

"Everything goes smoothly until you start playing it and you realize it is not fun," he said. "You have to spend 60% of your time changing it, because the game is not fun."
 

Labels: prevention, video_games

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 1 Comment

A recent White House report stated that obesity is estimated to cause 112,000 deaths per year and that one-third of children 10-years-old are expected to develop diabetes at some point in their lives. The report also stated that the current generation of children, because of childhood obesity and related issues, may not outlive their parents.

“The White House report offers recommendations related to early childhood, parenting, food in schools, access to healthy and affordable food and physical activity. Taken individually, none of these is a silver bullet. Also, communities and families looking for solutions must realize that their goals need to be long term and their efforts must be sustainable.” [Source: Des Moines Register]

Unfortunately, the issues of childhood obesity and health didn’t develop overnight. They won’t be fixed overnight either. But comprehensive, long-term plans that include physical exercise and a balanced diet can very quickly start kids on the path towards a long and healthy life.

Labels: government, prevention, awareness

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Rachel Ray recently joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a Brooklyn school to talk to kids about cooking and eating healthier foods. This year, 25 New York City schools – including the one visited by Ray – have been growing their own fresh vegetables and herbs in school gardens.

The city program, with a goal of creating 50 school gardens by next year, is supported by Ray’s Yum-o! organization, plus government, private and community nonprofit funds ...

The New York effort is part of a national campaign against childhood obesity led by first lady Michelle Obama, who helped Washington school children create a White House garden. [Source: The Associated Press]

Ray stood with the school kids in front of their boxes of vegetables and herbs, and pledged her continuing support of the project “as long as I have a big mouth.”

Labels: education, cooking

Posted By: My Overweight Child 1 Comment

A child's obesity may begin when his mother is pregnant, according to new research from Technical University in Munich, Germany.

The research team found that mothers who develop diabetes during pregnancy had a greater chance of having children who are overweight by age 11 years old. Diabetes is more common among overweight people.

Previous studies have shown that people who are overweight as children and teenagers have an 80 percent chance of being overweight in adulthood.
 

Labels: parenting, mothers, pregnancy

Posted By: My Overweight Child 0 Comments

Every year, the first week of May is set aside by the National Association for Sport & Physical Education to promote healthy, active lifestyles. This year, the organization is acknowledging the numerous programs, like Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move,” that have been launched to address obesity.

“Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates a positive correlation between physical education and academic achievement and the ability to concentrate. Further research positively links classroom physical activity to improved attention, achievement and behavior. Co-curricular physical activity is also correlated to educational aspirations, school affiliation, graduation and grade-point average.” [Source: Gannett Wisconsin Online]

One of the programs initiated for the spring is a fundraiser involving tens of thousands of children from Wisconsin. The kids will be jumping rope and shooting hoops to raise money for and awareness of heart disease.

Labels: prevention, awareness, obese teens, exercise

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California, is known for innovation, but most of its work is focused on databases and disk drives. Now, however, the tech savvy crew is teaming up with health care providers and government policymakers to tackle complex health issues.

“The first target will be childhood obesity, a growing phenomenon that has been declared a national concern by first lady Michelle Obama. Experts say excess weight in childhood is linked to a host of expensive health problems in adulthood, including heart disease and diabetes.” Source: Contra Costa (CA) Times]

The overarching, and very aggressive goal of the Research Center’s efforts is to answer the question: “If you have extra money to spend, would it be better to spend it on building another park, or having another part, or having more physical education in schools, or improving school lunch programs?”

All of these strategies have been proven effective, but rarely are they compared to each other. Experts hope this type of comparison will help both government and the private sector put their limited resources to the best use.

Labels: childhood_obesity, government, prevention, computers

Posted By: My Overweight Child 0 Comments

The Early Childhood Center at First Covenant Church in Omaha, Nebraska is one of many child care centers that are shifting their focus away from TV and board games, and toward nature centers and parks. The Childhood Center has claimed a small section of land, on which kids plant seeds, dig in the dirt and even find the occasional centipede.

“Researchers, educators and conservationists say many children today are missing the opportunity for unstructured play and exploration in nature. The Nature Exploration program helps centers design outdoor spaces, train staff to use them to full advantage and get families involved.” [Source: Omaha World-Herald]

There are currently 10 childhood programs in Nebraska that have been certified through the Nature Explore program, and there are about 36 across the United States.

Initiatives that encourage children to play outdoors are seen by many experts as important components in a comprehensive effort to reverse rising rates of childhood overweight and obesity.

Labels: exercise, playgrounds

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

May is designated as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, which means we’ll be hearing a lot about the importance of physical exercise. Health & Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius wanted to be one of the first to send the message, which does in a statement released today.

“An active lifestyle, combined with healthy eating, is the number one way to prevent obesity and key to preventing a host of serious obesity-related diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and asthma.” [Source: Medical News Today]

In addition, physical activity can increase your energy level, improve your concentration, and reduce stress. The whole family can mark National Physical Fitness and Sports Month by starting or re-starting regular physical activities. Even something simple, like a walk after dinner, can make a big difference!

Labels: exercise, fitness

Posted By: My Overweight Child 0 Comments

Beginning July 11, health professionals from around the world will congregate in Stockholm, Sweden to discuss obesity. The International Congress on Obesity will run for five days and address not just obesity itself, but related health issues and possible treatments.

“Excess body weight is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, making obesity one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide. The condition is considered one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century.” [Source: R&D Magazine]

New obesity-related research topics will include effective weight loss goals and strategies, possible drug treatments, and the effectiveness of community intervention programs.

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

Reducing teen obesity is a worthy effort -- but a majority of doctors believe that stomach surgery for overweight teens is not a good idea, according to a new study published in the journal Obesity Surgery.

Researchers from the University of Michigan used a random sample of pediatricians and family physicians, asking them their opinion of bariatric surgery for adolescents. Half said they would not consider recommending it.

"Physicians worry whether the risks outweigh the benefits," said Susan Woolford, lead author. "How long adolescents will be able to sustain the weight loss and what the psychological outcomes would be in their futures are questions that are still being explored."
 

Labels: overweight, teenagers, surgeries

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment