Childhood Obesity Georgia CTAE Resource Network Instructional Resources Office Written By: Landis Hicks July 2009

Introduction Using you may download videos related to this unit. A first time user will have to enter a user name and password from the school. Most school systems should one, check in the media center. Enter "Childhood obesity" into the search bar and it will bring up many to choose from. You download it either into a video in whole or a video by segments onto your hard drive then can add them into PowerPoint or whatever as needed.

Statistics According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 16% of children aged 6 to 19 are overweight The percentage has tripled since 1980 An additional 15% are considered “at risk” for becoming overweight (defined by a body mass index between the 85 th -95 th percentile

The Concern As a result, there is an increase in many health problems Epidemic increase particularly prevalent among African American and Hispanic children with 21% of these groups meeting the classification of overweight. Estimated that about ½ of overweight school-agers and 70% of overweight teens will remain obese into adulthood

Defining Obesity Being obese or overweight means that a child’s weight is over the 95 th percentile on the BMI-for-age-charts for children (Body Mass Index). When a child’s weight rises steeply in comparison to height, overweight or obesity may be indicated.

BMI formula for children Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703 When using English measurements, ounces (oz) and fractions must be changed to decimal values. Then, calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703.

Health Problems… Diabetes Heart disease Cancer Stroke Other Problems Social problems Low self-esteem Arthritis Gallstones Sleep apnea Asthma Complications during pregnancy

Causes To some extent, genetics (shape & size, body build, bone size) Slower metabolism rates More Likely…. Sedentary activities Poor eating habits established early Decreased community access to safe places for physical activities Busy lifestyles = convenience foods (fast food)

Poor Food Choices According to the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)- a scale that measures 10 components of a healthful diet, most children have a diet that “needs improvement.” As children move preschool through adolescence, HEI scores decrease from an average of 75.7 for 2-3 year olds to around 60 for teenagers. (An overall score of 80 is considered a “good” diet. More than 75% of children ages 6-11 do not eat the minimum of 3 servings of vegetables or 2 servings of fruit daily. Children have especially low intakes of the nutrient-rich dark green leafy and deep yellow vegetables and nutrient-dense citrus fruits, melon and berries.

Poor Choices Continued… Fewer than ½ of youngsters take in the recommended amount of calcium to maximize their lifetime bone development. At a time when they need calcium the most, kids are choosing soft drinks over dairy products and potato chips over broccoli. Total daily calorie intake from snacks has risen from an avg. of 450 to 600 calories per day over the past two decades.

Variety USDA’s My Pyramid/MyPlate Whole-fat dairy for children under 2 “Now and Then” foods vs. “Everyday” foods Healthy snack ideas Choking hazards

Mealtime Conflicts Offer healthy meals and snacks at regularly scheduled times Child-sized portions, plates, cups, and utensils Allow your child to choose when or whether to eat Offer new foods times Don’t force/bribe child to eat

Food Adventures Include child in shopping and meal preparation Eat meals sitting down together Allow your child to explore food Make fun healthy foods together

Inactivity Kids spend large chucks of time in front of the television, video games, and computers. Studies have documented a clear connection between the time spent watching TV and the levels of both body fat and blood cholesterol in kids. Nearly half of American youth ages are not vigorously active on a regular basis.

Healthy Habits One hour total of playtime 1-2 hours or less of screen time/day Wise fast food choices Quick and healthy homemade meals Be active together as a family