| The prevalence of overweight children has tripled | | | | eat more meals outside the home, consume fewer |
| between 1985 and 2000 and has reached epidemic | | | | fruits and vegetables, and make more hi-fat choices. |
| proportions, with approximately 16% of children | | | | Fifth, activity levels have decreased. Twenty years |
| currently classified as overweight. A child is | | | | ago, children engaged in several bouts of physical |
| considered overweight if his/her body mass index | | | | activity per day. Now, many schools have removed |
| (BMI; [wt (kg)/ ht (m)2]) falls between the 85th and | | | | physical education from the curriculum and children |
| 95th percentile for his/her gender and age. A child | | | | are replacing after-school physical activity with |
| would be considered obese if his or her BMI for age | | | | television, computers, and video games. |
| is > 95th percentile. | | | | Preventing and Treating Childhood Overweight. |
| About 50% of overweight children become obese | | | | Behavior modification programs are effective at |
| adults. Children are not aware of the long-term health | | | | addressing a variety of problematic behaviors, but |
| risks associated with being overweight. For example, | | | | they are nevertheless challenging. Fortunately, it is |
| paralleling the increase in the numbers of children | | | | easier to change a child's behavior than that of an |
| classified as overweight, there has been a drastic | | | | adult. Family-based interventions aimed at targeting |
| increase in childhood type II diabetes. In addition, a | | | | specific behaviors (e.g., television viewing, physical |
| variety of other physical complications (e.g., | | | | activity, diet, consumption of sugar-sweetened |
| orthopedic concerns, high blood pressure, sleep | | | | beverages) are most promising. Below are some |
| apnea) and psychological problems (e.g., depression, | | | | ways that you can help your family increase their |
| anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem) are often | | | | healthy behaviors:o Make family time an active time. |
| associated with being overweight. | | | | The summer is coming - go for walks, ride a bike, |
| There are several reasons for the dramatic increase | | | | take a swim. Reduce television and video game time. |
| in the prevalence of overweight children. First, the | | | | Instead of sitting on the couch, try walking around a |
| environment has played a major role. Children are | | | | museum, garden, or mall.o Use physical activity as a |
| exposed to a variety of easily accessible and | | | | reward for good behavior. But, don't take it away as |
| affordable fast food options in the community, | | | | a means of punishment (e.g., "no playing outside |
| vending machines stocked with sugar-sweetened | | | | today"). The end result would be more sedentary |
| beverages at school, and high-calorie snacks at home. | | | | behavior for your child.o Plan and prepare healthy |
| Clearly, changes need to be made in all of these | | | | meals together as a family. Start eating breakfast to |
| settings. | | | | provide the fuel you need for the day. Research |
| Second, advertising has also played a major role. Dr. | | | | shows that kids who eat breakfast miss fewer |
| Kelly Brownell, director of the Yale Center for Eating | | | | school days, are late less often, do better in school, |
| and Weight Disorders, noted that the US | | | | and are more alert.o Make healthier choices. Choose |
| government nutrition education program ("5 a Day") | | | | whole grains, various fruits and vegetables, skim or |
| was given $3 million for promotion, while the fast | | | | 1% milk, lean meats, and select healthier cooking |
| food industry spends 1000 times that in | | | | options (e.g., baking, broiling). Snacks are important |
| advertisements geared towards children. Accordingly, | | | | for a healthy diet. Try to select low-fat, reduced |
| Brownell stated that Ronald McDonald is the second | | | | sugar, and reduced salt snacks.o Drink more water. |
| most recognized figure in the world, just after Santa | | | | Try adding different fruits to the water to give it a |
| Claus! | | | | fruity, summery taste. Be careful with juice drinks; |
| Third, portion sizes have increased considerably. For | | | | many do not have real fruit juice and are actually high |
| instance, soda used to be sold in 6 oz. containers. | | | | in sugar. Select one that says "100% juice."o Be a |
| The standard size is now 20 oz! Every day children | | | | role model and practice what you preach. Make sure |
| get 11% of their calories from soft drinks, which is | | | | that your portion sizes aren't "super-sized," that you |
| about 15 teaspoons of sugar per day! Our society is | | | | choose water and healthy food options, and that you |
| filled with buffets, big gulps, and super-sized portions. | | | | do not take the sedentary way out. |
| Fourth, eating patterns have changed. People now | | | | |