Why is Childhood Obesity Considered a Health Problem?

• Children with obesity can be bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers. They are also more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem. The effects of this can last into adulthood.
• Children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, and type 2 diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being reported among children who are overweight. Onset of diabetes in children can lead to heart disease and kidney failure.
• Children with obesity also have more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure and high cholesterol than their normal weight peers. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, almost 60% of children who were overweight had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 25% had two or more CVD risk factors.
• Children with obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults. This can lead to lifelong physical and mental health problems. Adult obesity is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many types of cancers.

 Targeting a Healthy Body Weight for Prevention of Chronic Disease

CVD (Cardiovascular Disease):  Excess weight, particularly abdominal fat, significantly increases the risk for heart disease. The association between obesity with cardiovascular risk factors, (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes), has been well established. When a person is overweight, heart has to pump a greater amount of blood through the body, which causes strain on the heart.

Cancer:  Being overweight or obese is clearly linked to an overall increased risk of cancer.

Being overweight is linked with an increased risk of many types of cancer, including:

• Breast (in women past menopause)
• Colon and rectum
• Endometrium
• Esophagus
• Kidney
• Pancreas

Fat cells change the internal environment of the body by releasing a range of chemicals that can make cells act differently leading to potential development of cancer cells.

Diabetes:   Excess weight results in additional pressure on the body’s ability to use insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. Thus, those with extra weight are more likely to develop diabetes. The more excess weight you have, the more resistant your muscle and tissue cells become to your own insulin hormone. The number of diabetes cases has increased significantly, and additional increases are expected. Surprisingly, however, you still can be at risk for type 2 diabetes, even if you’re not heavy.

What Can I Do As a Parent or Guardian to Help Prevent Childhood Overweight and Obesity?

To help your child maintain a healthy weight, balance the calories your child consumes from foods and beverages with the calories your child uses through physical activity and normal growth.

Remember that the goal for children who are overweight is to reduce the rate of weight gain while allowing normal growth and development. Children should NOT be placed on a weight reduction diet without the consultation of a health care provider.

Balancing Calories: Help Kids Develop Healthy Eating Habits

One part of balancing calories is to eat foods that provide adequate nutrition and an appropriate number of calories. You can help children learn to be aware of what they eat by developing healthy eating habits, looking for ways to make favorite dishes healthier, and reducing calorie-rich temptations.

Encourage healthy eating habits.

There’s no great secret to healthy eating. To help your children and family develop healthy eating habits:

• Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.
• If utilizing dairy products, use low-fat or non-fat.
• Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.
• Serve reasonably-sized portions.
• Encourage your family to drink lots of water.
• Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.

Remember that small changes every day can lead to a recipe for success!

Look for ways to make favorite dishes healthier.

The recipes that you may prepare regularly, and that your family enjoys, with just a few changes can be healthier and just as satisfying.

Remove calorie-rich temptations!

Although everything can be enjoyed in moderation, reducing the calorie-rich temptations of high-fat and high-sugar, or salty snacks can also help your children develop healthy eating habits. Instead only allow your children to eat them sometimes, so that they truly will be treats! Here are examples of easy-to-prepare, low-fat and low-sugar treats that are 100 calories or less:

• A medium-size apple
• A medium-size banana
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup grapes
• 1 cup carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers with 2 tbsp. hummus

Balancing Calories: Help Kids Stay Active

Another part of balancing calories is to engage in an appropriate amount of physical activity and avoid too much sedentary time. In addition to being fun for children, regular physical activity has many health benefits, including:

• Strengthening bones
• Decreasing blood pressure
• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Increasing self-esteem
• Helping with weight management

Help kids stay active.

Children should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily. Remember that children imitate adults. Start adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you.

Reduce sedentary time.

In addition to encouraging physical activity, help children avoid too much sedentary time. Although quiet time for reading and homework is fine, limit the time your children watch television, play video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television viewing for children age 2 or younger. Instead, encourage your children to find fun activities to do with family members or on their own that simply involve more activity.