Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents, and is usually caused by eating too much and not getting enough exercise. Obesity in children living in the United States is of particular concern since 12.5 million children are overweight, and are at greater risk of serious health problems and diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, according to the Office of the Surgeon General.
While there are some genetic and hormonal causes of childhood obesity, studies show the primary cause of children being overweight is due to lifestyle issues such as eating more calories than is needed to support their growing bodies, daily activities and metabolism. Diseases like Prader-Willi syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome affect a very small proportion of children in society, whereas eating and exercise habits in families play a much larger role in the increase of childhood obesity.
Overweight children and adolescents are also more likely to become obese as adults. For example, one study found that nearly 80% of overweight children between the ages of 10-15 were obese adults at the age of 25. Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight children, also concluding that if excess weight occurs by the age of 8 years old, the likelihood of being obese as adults is far more severe.
Prevalence of Childhood Obesity
The risk factors and prevalence of childhood obesity threatens an entire generation of children, with serious health problems such as heart disease, strokes and cancer, causing scientists to forecast a 2 to 5-year drop in life expectancy unless drastic measures are taken to reduce or prevent obesity in children.
The most effective way of treating and preventing childhood obesity is for the entire family to adopt healthier eating habits and making exercise a priority. Dealing with overweight children, or preventing obesity in children, is a family matter that helps protect the health of children now and into their future. Parents who exercise poor nutritional habits and who lead sedentary lifestyles role model these behaviors for their children, with increased psychological problems such as low self-esteem and depression being common in overweight kids.
Kids are spending less time getting needed exercise, but more time parked in front of the TV, computer, or playing video-games. Sedentary kids are more likely to gain weight because they’re not burning calories through physical activity, but are often loading up on soft drinks, candy and other high-fat, high-calorie snacks and junk food.
Children that come from a family of overweight people may be predisposed to obesity, especially in a family environment where parents and other adults practice poor eating habits themselves, with high-calorie foods readily available and physical activity virtually nonexistent. Are you or your child overweight?
Treating and Preventing Obesity in Children
Express your unconditional love. Let your child know he or she is loved and appreciated whatever his or her weight. An overweight child probably knows better than anyone else that he or she has a weight problem. Overweight children need support, acceptance, and encouragement from their parents.
Be a good role model. The old saying, “practice what you preach”, couldn’t be more true. Parents are responsible for putting healthy foods in the kitchen at home, as well as leaving unhealthy foods on the grocery store shelves. You really can’t blame your kids for wanting junk foods; after all they taste good. But, you can and need to control the amount of access children have to unhealthy foods, making sure to have an abundance of healthy foods and snacks for you and your kids to eat.
Set realistic goals. Even if you believe your child is a very picky eater, you can still establish reasonable goals for your children such as having your child eat fresh fruit for afternoon snacks, or limiting fast-food meals to just once a month. Offer milk or water instead of sodas or high-calorie fruit drinks. Use small food portions for children, rather than heaping too much food on their plate, as more food can be added as needed.
Don’t use food as a reward. Using food to reward children for good behavior is extremely counter-productive. Don’t do it. Plan frequent fun family activities that the entire family can enjoy together as a reward, that also help increase physical activity for your children and for yourselves, as well as offering praise and encouragement. Keep the TV turned off during meals, and consider having the family go for a walk or to the park after dinner a couple times each week.
Keep it positive. Don’t focus your attention on the weight but rather on the goal to living a healthier lifestyle. Never make fun of your child’s weight, or criticize them for their appearance, as this will cause them to want to comfort themselves with even more food. Treating obesity in children takes time and effort, and should never be treated as if it were a race.
Forget the clean-plate obsession. Learn to recognize hunger cues, and when children show their hunger has been satisfied, don’t force them to finish everything on their plate. Even babies turn away from a bottle or breast when they are no longer hungry, so it’s important to reinforce healthy behaviors by encouraging children to only eat when hungry and stop eating when they’ve had enough in order to avoid childhood obesity
Do you have any further suggestions for parents and families dealing with childhood obesity that you’d like to pass along? Please leave your comment or question below.
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13 responses so far ↓
1 David Leonhardt Happiness (2 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 5:57 am
This is superb advice. We have two totally opposite daughters - one who has to be coaxed to eat and the other who needs to be constantly reminded that enough is enough. It is not easy to balance when one leaves a lot of food on her plate just begging to be eaten by the other.
It is also very hard not to use food as a reward, although we have found that the best way to motivate our children is to wait until close to an outing, ten tell them that we’ll be going shortly … if the toys are all put away. “Can’t leave until everything is put away.” That usually works.
2 Michael Bailey (1 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 6:18 am
Nice post - I initially thought that it would be one which attempted to talk about obesity as if the children couldn’t help it - but I am glad that you stuck to the point that more calories than needed is the cause.
Of course, there are way too many fat adults having kids, and passing along their low-self esteem and poor dietary habits to their offspring, so the future doesn’t look so good for a large portion of the population.
Whenever the media talks about obesity as “no fault” of their own, it becomes a ready-made excuse for a majority of people to not ever bother trying to do anything about it.
Thanks again for the post.
3 display booths (52 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:42 am
Lin, this article is yet more proof of what a good writer you are. You have hit the nail on the head, repeatedly. The vast majority of people who are fat (yes, fat may be a “bad” word, but it gets the point across, and I wouldn’t call so one that, I just use it to describe the problem) are fat because they eat too much of the wrong food and don’t exercise enough. Period. End of story. It’s a tragedy that so many kids are overweight these days. You point out some excellent ideas for doing something about it. I grew up with the “clean plate” rule, but we never had too much or too-high-of-calorie food around so it wasn’t a problem. We don’t make our kids follow the rule. I also agree that kids will do what their parents do, at least when their parents eat too much bad food. We realize we are role models, and act accordingly. Again, you are much more elegant in your prose. ~ Steve
4 Lin (793 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Thanks everyone. I appreciate your comments very much, and the compliment about my writing.
Overweight children is a topic that really concerns me. Almost every day I see very young children, toddlers even, that are extremely overweight and I can’t help but wonder about the parents. Many times the parents themselves are very overweight as well, and seem to think that constantly feeding their kids is the answer to boredom, whining, etc. It’s a very serious issue, so I felt it necessary to address the subject.
5 display booths (52 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Hi Lin, I had an idea you can add. Recognizing that it’s not only HOW MUCH you eat but also WHAT you eat, we had our kids help plant a small garden. They planted green beans among other things, and just helped pick them recently. They then got to eat “their” vegetables. It doesn’t have to even be a garden, it can just be a couple of plants in pots. The key is that the kids grow their own stuff (and learn about seeds, plants, etc) but then also get to eat their own stuff. It’s been fun for us. Of course, this only works if the parents eat the vegetables as well. ~ Steve (an avid “weekend” gardener and a guy with a lot of trade show display booths)
6 Lin (793 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Steve, having kids help plant a vegetable garden is a wonderful idea, thanks for suggesting that. My kids had their own vegetable garden when they were growing up, and they took great pride in tending to their plants, watering them, picking them etc.
I have pictures of my kids when they were very little sitting on the front porch eating a head of cauliflower picked from their garden; fresh cucumbers; radishes and all sorts of healthy foods.
Although my kids were able to have an occasional sweet treat, they grew up with an appreciation and love of a large variety of healthy foods. (Um, I didn’t put up with the so-called picky-eater nonsense).
Dinner Choices:
1. Take it
2. Leave it
7 display booths (52 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Lin, your “dinner choices” CRACK ME UP! If laughter is the best of medicine, I just got my dose for the month. Too funny! ~ Steve
8 Convention Bags (1 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I really do feel for the children of today. When I was young I could walk the streets by myself and stay at the playground until dark without any problems. Today parents have to constantly guard their children, even in their own backyards. So if parents are busy kids are forced to stay inside to watch tv or play video games.
I think if neighborhood games of tag and such were more common then obesity wouldn’t be such a problem.
Though adults are often pushing maximum density so the problem is much greater than just children.
9 Michael (4 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Great Article.
Dealing with weight issues is a very hard and not uncommon in our country.. We are a country of over-doers. We work too much, are hyper-violent, and fast food cultured…
We must make a change for our kids generation because as we have learned, being obese is a very unhealthy lifestyle that can very negatively affect us. We have to start somewhere.
Great Post.
10 Lin (793 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:02 pm
C.B., I understand what you mean about parents being busy and the safety concerns for children while outdoors.
However, I don’t believe that parents can or should use the excuse that they are too busy to spend time with their children doing activities that are beneficial for the entire family.
I also don’t believe that kids are forced into watching television or playing video games or any other idle, mind-numbing activity because parents are so busy with other things.
Being a responsible parent many times requires saying No. I don’t necessarily mean saying No to their children all the time either; but many parents haven’t learned how to say No to themselves either, especially when it comes to eating healthy and being active for their own health and that of their children.
If parents are afraid to allow their children to play and run and jump and get some exercise without direct supervision by the parents, then it behooves parents to schedule time throughout the week and weekends where they and their children can enjoy fun, healthy activities. It’s a matter of good health. And for some, it’s a matter of life and death.
11 Andrew. Trademark. (1 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:19 pm
This is a great post. I sadly just read a story about a buffet restaurant charging a young girl the adult price because she was larger than average. It is horrifying the way people treat others!
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