How thin is too thin? If you think childhood obesity statistics are shocking, there is increasing concern about how the pressure to be thin in society is affecting girls and boys through the media, and how girls in particular are more obsessed with dieting than in previous generations. The obsession to be thin has lead to an increase in eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia in girls as young as 5-years-old, according to recent studies and surveys.

Girls whose moms are on a diet are almost twice as likely to suffer from an eating disorder, according to a recent survey of over 500 teenage girls between the ages of 12 to 18, conducted by teen magazine Sugar. Most of the teenage girls surveyed said they felt damaged by their mother’s dieting obsession and views on food and considered their mothers to be the biggest influence on their own self-image.

Got boys, rather than girls? You’re still not out of the woods moms and dads. Boys struggle with body image too, even though boys may not be as vocal about it, but unrealistic, unhealthy body image standards for boys are very common. Media and peer pressure to be thin and not “heavy”, build big biceps, and create those hard, toned bodies and six-pack abs has become society’s idea of the ideal body for boys and men.

“Thinheritance” is the new modern term describing females who have “inherited” their mothers views and opinions about her own body image, which is then projected onto the daughters by way of comments about body weight issues and concerns about being “fat”. Moms, ask yourself, do you have poor body image? When you look in the mirror or put your clothes on in the morning, do you tell yourself that you are too fat, too thin, ugly, old and tired? The things you tell yourself about how you feel about your own body, shape, size, weight and measurements may very well be affecting your daughter’s perception and beliefs about her body image.

Girls and Dieting

The results of the survey of the teen girls by Sugar shows the dieting obsession for girls in particular and the serious dangers associated with extreme dieting should be a wake-up call for both moms and dads.

• Two-thirds (66%) said they had heard their mom complain about her own weight and 56% of the girls have mothers who are on a diet, despite the fact that 68% of the girls described their mother‘s body size as perfectly normal.

• More than half of teenage girls surveyed (51%) have dieted, which becomes 59% among girls whose mothers diet.

• Almost eight out of 10 (78%) girls worry about their weight, and 20% say they worry about their looks all the time.

• One in five girls said they are criticized by family members for being “too big” and 51% of the girls have been hurt by their parents talking about their size.

• Almost one in three girls surveyed have been called names like ‘elephant’ or ‘beast’ or ‘heifer’ by their relatives.

• Amongst the girls who get comments about their weight from their families, 58% worry about their looks all the time.

• 9% of teenage girls say they are ‘constantly’ on a diet. Among girls whose families comment on their weight, this number tripled to 24%.

Psychologist Amanda Hills commented on the survey results saying:

“Children learn how to behave by watching their parents.

‘Food becomes an issue when mum isn’t sitting down to dinner with everyone else or is off preparing a separate meal for herself.

‘And a dieting parent will label certain foods as ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’, which can lead to an unhealthy approach to food.

‘The ‘drip-drip’ effect of constant self-criticism in front of easily-influenced teens teaches them to do likewise.

‘If mum’s calling herself fat, it won’t be long before her daughter is too.

‘I would say at least half of the people I see with an eating disorder admit that there are problems with eating in the family.”

Body Image in the Media

The pressure to be thin and “perfect” in society today brings dangerous consequences for our young people, but it seems this twit doesn’t understand that girls don’t need to be a walking, talking, skeleton-like toothpick. There was a time when the “ideal” body weight, size and measurements women wanted to emulate and aspire to look like (and men drooled over) was that of famous celebrities like Raquel Welch, Marilyn Monroe, Gina Lollobrigida, Jayne Mansfield and Sophia Loren with their voluptuous, hourglass figures and curvy shapes.

Nowadays, the media bombards us and our children with airbrushed pictures and images of models and celebrities who are waif-like thin, too skinny for their own good and look more like wire hangers than human beings. Counter that with a junk celebrity news article by the New York Post listing “50 Fat Celebrities”, which included “Daisy Duke”-wearing Jessica Simpson dubbed “Jumbo Jessica”; Jennifer Love Hewitt; Eva Longoria Parker; Mischa Barton and former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and Dancing with the Stars alum Rachel Hunter.

In 1986, researchers from the University of California at San Francisco showed that 80% of fourth-grade girls were dieting. According to the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, children as young as five are starting to show signs of poor body image and are dieting. Very young children going on diets has been found to be very dangerous because it can stunt a child’s growth and brain development. Research from Harris Interactive Surveys of 1,059 girls found that between 2000 and 2006, the percentage of girls who believe that they must be thin to be popular rose from 48% to 60%.

All it takes to understand the difference between girls and dieting years ago and the extreme measures now being taken to become the supposed beauty ideal of thin and skinny vs. fat and ugly is by seeing pictures and images of the history and timeline of when the media and society went nuts about being thin. Another study reveals that girls as young as seven would like to change something about their appearance and half of 16 to 21-year-olds would consider cosmetic surgery to achieve what they believe to be the ideal, perfect, sexy body.

The research, carried out by Girlguiding UK, shows that 95% of 16 to 21-year-olds would change their bodies, with 33 percent saying they wanted to be thinner and around a quarter of 16 to 21-year-olds said they would consider resorting to cosmetic surgery and botox. The constant barrage of media messages in society about thinness, dieting and beauty tells “ordinary” girls and women that they are always in need of adjustment and fine-tuning, and that the female body is an object to be perfected.

Moms and dads, protect and safeguard your body image and that of your sons and daughters by educating yourself about the difference between body image vs. self image and living a healthy lifestyle. Do not go on a diet and do not put your son or daughter on a diet, even if they are overweight or “morbidly obese”. Diets are temporary and the diet industry is a $55 billion dollar industry with a 95% failure rate. Living a healthy lifestyle requires raising your standards, making healthy food choices, changing your perception and focusing on what is your personal best rather than what the media and society would have you believe is the “ideal” body.

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Childhood obesity in children and teens who are considered overweight or clinically obese is on the rise, according to research studies on the prevalence of overweight and obese children and adolescents in the U.S. Child obesity statistics speak for themselves, with the term “childhood obesity epidemic” creating concern for parents and health officials, as well as city and state government officials searching for ways to reduce and even prevent obesity in children.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over nine million kids and teens between the ages of 6-19 years of age have been diagnosed as being overweight or morbidly obese, an alarming number that has tripled since 1980.

The CDC reports that over the past three decades child obesity rates have more than doubled for preschool children between the ages of 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years.

Childhood Obesity Statistics

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Resources, overweight kids and teens have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults, which jumps to 80% if one or more parents is overweight or obese themselves.

In the U.K., parents of overweight school kids are to receive a letter from schools telling them their child is underweight, a healthy weight, overweight or very overweight. Included in the letter are tips and advice on getting kids to eat healthy, the risks of being overweight and physical activities their child can do to lower their weight and risk factors.

In 2008, child obesity statistics show a dramatic increase in the U.S. obesity rates per state, showing only one state (Colorado) with a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.

Child Obesity Definition

What is obesity? The definition of child obesity and overweight is simple and easy to understand. “Obesity” means an excess amount of body fat, or body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, while “overweight” is defined as a body mass index of 25 or higher. BMI is calculated from a person’s weight and height, which provides a good indicator of unhealthy body fat and weight that may lead to serious health problems.

Most health professionals use published guidelines based on the body mass index, or a modified BMI for age, in order to measure obesity in children. Other professionals classify fat or overweight kids as being obese if they have a body weight ratio of at least 20% higher than a healthy weight for a child of that height, or a body fat percentage above 25% in boys or above 32% in girls.

Childhood Obesity Facts

The facts about childhood obesity cannot be ignored, and some parents have actually been arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect because their teen is morbidly obese, creating a firestorm of controversy around the country. The health risks and long-term effects of obesity in children are numerous, with very serious consequences, such as:

• Coronary heart disease

• Type 2 diabetes (also referred to as adult-onset diabetes)

• Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)

• Stroke

• Liver diseases, gallbladder diseases and asthma

• Sleep apnea (interruption of breath while sleeping) and respiratory problems

• Orthopedic problems/Osteoarthritis (breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)

• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

Causes of Childhood Obesity

What causes obesity and overweight in children?, you may wonder. According to the Mayo Clinic, obesity in children is caused by kids eating too much, eating the wrong kinds of foods (ie. junk foods, high calorie, high fat, high sodium) and not getting enough exercise. Television commercial ads intentionally marketed to kids and school cafeteria food menu items deserve to share at least part of the blame for increased obesity trends in children.

Genetic disorders and hormonal causes appear to play a part in some cases but are far less common than lifestyle issues and poor eating habits, and is not commonly viewed as a viable excuse. Genetic diseases, such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome, affect only a very small percentage of children, but the primary cause of child obesity is poor eating habits and leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Lack of regular, “natural exercise” is a major contributing factor in childhood obesity rates. Children who spend too much time watching television programs, playing video games too much or internet surfing for hours each day, have a greater risk of being overweight or becoming morbidly obese than kids who regularly engage in active play or sports.

According to research studies, “children’s food preferences and food-intake patterns may be shaped largely by the foods parents choose to make available to children and persistence in presenting a food that initially is rejected.”

The same study found that “picky eaters were breastfed for fewer than 6 months,” suggesting that breastfeeding that lasts longer than 6 months may help prevent kids from becoming picky eaters in the first place. Recommendations for dealing with a picky eater are to prepare one healthy meal for the entire family, and if he or she does not want to eat the meal prepared, don’t force them to eat it but don’t give the child something else to eat.

Weight Loss Diets for Children?

Child obesity prevention programs, weight loss camps and diets for kids under 13 years of age (and older) are popping up all over the U.S., but are diets for children safe? These programs are hoping to stop the obesity epidemic from growing and help kids learn about proper nutrition, food choice, self esteem, portion control and getting enough exercise.

National weight loss programs and grants are being put into place to help children achieve and maintain a healthy body mass index, or BMI, and lower their risks of health problems. These obesity programs also help parents of overweight or obese kids learn how to promote healthy lifestyles and eating habits, and how to give helpful support and encouragement effectively.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food pyramid for kids program called MyPyramid for Kids offers printable meal tracking worksheets in Spanish and English to help preschoolers (ages 2-5 years) and older kids (ages 6-11 years) keep track of their food choices and level of physical activity, as well as providing tips for parents and families.

We Can! or “Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition” is a national education program developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help prevent childhood obesity in youth ages 8–13. We Can! focuses on programs and activities for parents and families as a primary group for influencing youth. The program provides turn-key resources and programs for parents, caregivers, and youth to encourage healthy eating, increase physical activity, and reduce screen time.

Fad diets are a dime a dozen, and that includes “diets for teens” and even “diets for kids” who are overweight, so before you go signing your kid up for any diet programs – research diet scams and talk to your family doctor to make an informed decision for your child.

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