The childhood obesity epidemic is a scandal in the U.S. and will lead to large increases in health care expenditures unless it is stopped soon. Childhood obesity is also a curse on the unfortunate children who are afflicted with it and suffer insults, low self esteem, and depression because they are obese. Parents, schools and the medical profession can all play important roles in saving children from this curse and in saving people taxes or higher insurance premiums resulting from the complications of obesity.
Facts about the Childhood Obesity Epidemic in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the rate of childhood obesity has actually tripled over the past 30 years:
- Obesity among children six to eleven increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008.
- Adolescent (12 to 19) obesity increased from 5.0% in 1980 to 18.1% in 2008.
Obesity in childhood has the following short-term harmful consequences:
- Development of one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease in childhood (70% of obese children aged five to 17).
- Greater risks among obese children and teens for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems.
Long term risks of being obese in childhood are associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight or obese in adulthood, thereby having greater health risks for medical conditions such as:
- heart disease
- stroke
- type 2 diabetes
- multiple types of cancer
- osteoarthritis
Life expectancy as well as quality of life are damaged by obesity that continues into adulthood. So childhood obesity is worth avoiding or overcoming when it happens.
Causes of Childhood Obesity in the U.S.
The direct cause of obesity in children is consuming too many calories for the number of calories expended. Factors affecting this caloric imbalance include behavior, environmental (including family) influences, and genetics. Behavior and environmental factors can be changed while genetic factors are fixed. It would be wrong to excuse or blame much childhood obesity on genetics or medical conditions, however. Most childhood obesity is caused by overeating and not getting enough physical activity.
The Mayo Clinic identifies several important risk factors for childhood obesity:
- diet – Eating many high calorie foods like fast foods, soft drinks, candy, desserts and baked goods can cause steady weight gain.
- lack of exercise – Not getting enough physical activity and spending too much time in sedentary activities like watching TV, playing video games and playing or socializing on a computer or cell phone can also lead to weight gain.
- family history – Overweight role models in the family, the availability of high calorie foods and the lack of physical activity in the family are matters that can lead to childhood obesity.
- psychological factors – Overeating as a way to cope with problems or stress can be a problem, especially when the parents use food that way.
- socioeconomic factors – Children in low income families are at higher risk of obesity due to fewer resources and less time to make exercise and healthy eating high priorities.
Ways to Reduce Obesity in Children
Michelle Obama chose childhood obesity as her focus as First Lady, with a goal to end obesity in children within a generation. The marshalling of significant government resources may help the U.S. attain that goal if Congressional funding is made available. Meanwhile here are things that ordinary families and local communities can do to help correct or prevent obesity:
- Make an appointment to see the family doctor or pediatrician to get up-to-date advice on how to fight childhood obesity.
- Record what children eat and drink for a week to show the doctor.
- Make wise food choices and keep only healthy foods in the house.
- Severely limit sweet and fattening snack, desserts, and beverages.
- Don’t use food as a reward or punishment.
- Stop eating out at fast food restaurants.
- Play outdoors with one’s children on a regular basis.
- Restrict TV and recreational computer time to a maximum of two hours a day.
- Discover outdoor activities that specific children like to do and emphasize those.
- Lead by example. Parents should get more active themselves and adopt healthy eating habits.
- Pressure local schools to eliminate unhealthy foods, drinks, and snacks from their cafeterias and buildings.
It’s important to focus on building the self-esteem of obese children and to encourage them to share their feelings. It’s also important to help them to set positive activity goals they can enjoy doing and can realistically achieve. Overweight adults might walk every day for an hour or more to set an example and invite an obese child along for conversation.
Being patient and relaxed with an obese child can help avoid an intense focus on weight and eating behavior which could unintentionally foster an eating disorder.
Helping Children Overcome Obesity is an Important Goal
Putting an end to childhood obesity in the U.S. is a worthy but challenging goal. Much education on nutrition and physical activity will be required and healthy eating and recreation habits will need to be effectively encouraged to reverse the awful trend of obesity in children.
It is in everyone’s interest that this obesity epidemic be stopped to save both the children from harm and the country from escalating health care costs. But it should be remembered that it is usually not the choice of children to become obese. They deserve to be helped rather than blamed.
Sources:
cdc.gov, "Childhood Overweight and Obesity" (accessed April 8, 2010)
mayoclinic.com, "Childhood Obesity" (accessed April 8, 2010)
Robert McKelvie - My experience in business and pursuit of learning over the years enables me to share some of my knowledge via the web.
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