1. Childhood Obesity Problems, Causes & Solutions

2. A Growing Crisis
“In the past three decades, the number of overweight children has more than doubled, with most of the increases occurring during the past ten years.” - Rallie McAllister, M.D.
Wow.. Doubled in the last 3 decades.. You might ask yourself, “so what”? Is this a problem for all of us, or just some of us?

3. What’s the Big Deal?

4. I Don’t Want to Grow Up
25% of children who are obese at age 6 will be obese as an adult
75% of children who are obese at age 12 will be obese as an adult

5. Effects on the Child

6. Physical Consequences
Type 2 Diabetes
used to be virtually unrecognized in adolescence
almost entirely attributable to obesity
obese children are reported to be 12 times more likely to have high fasting blood insulin levels
Orthopedic complications
bone and cartilage in the process of development are not strong enough to bear excess weight
Hypertension
Elevated blood pressure levels have been found to occur about 9 times more frequently among obese children

7. Social Difficulties Obese children…
are stereotyped as “unhealthy, academically unsuccessful & lazy”
may be teased or verbally abused by other children
can become excluded from being a part of social groups and/or other activities

8. Psychological Problems
Discrimination can cause a negative self-image and poor self-esteem
Sadness can occur, which can lead to depression
Loneliness
Eating disorders
more prevalent in females

9. People who are obese or overweight also have a lower life expectancy
Remember… we can prevent all this!!!
A 40-year-old nonsmoking male who is overweight will lose 3.1 years of life expectancy; one who is obese will lose 5.8 years. A 40-year-old overweight nonsmoking female will lose 3.3 years of life expectancy; one who is obese will lose 7.1 years.

10. How to Tell If A Child is Overweight or Obese

11. Indicators Growth Chart Skin fold thickness BMI (Body Mass Index)
height and weight can be compared and plotted
Skin fold thickness
measured at the triceps with a caliper that pinches the skin and together and will be higher in obese children
BMI (Body Mass Index)
is best measurement to take because it is age and gender specific
Children may need multiple measures over time. Sometimes behavior changes early can lead to a normal weight.

12. What is BMI?
BMI is used to identify overweight and obesity in children
BMI = weight (kg)/height (m)²
For children, BMI is age and gender specific and is consistent with adult index, so it can be used continuously from two years of age to adulthood

13. Are you at risk?
The Center for Disease Control avoids using the word “obesity” for children
Instead they suggest two levels of overweight:
1.) 85th percentile: At-risk level (overweight)
2.) 95th percentile: Severe-level (obesity)

14. What does the 95th percentile BMI score mean?
Correlates to BMI score of 30, which is the marker for obesity in adults
Identifies children that are likely to have obesity persist into adulthood
Is associated with elevated blood pressure and lipid in older adolescents which increases risk of diseases
Remember when we calculated BMI?

15. Increase in obesity among American youth over the past two decades:
. Prevalence of Obese Children (Ages 6 to 11) at the 95th percentile of Body Mass Index (BMI)
1999 to 2000
15.3%
1988 to 1994
11%
1976 to 1980 7%
Prevalence of Obese Adolescents (Ages 12 to 19) at the 95th percentile of Body Mass Index (BMI)
1999 to 2000
15.3%
1988 to 1994
11%
1976 to 1980 7%
What trend to you notice. Use the chart on your notes to Predict what 2010 statistics were?? Depending on the state; some where as high as 40% obese in both categories.

16. What are the Causes?

17. The Family Atmosphere
According to the American Obesity Association, parents are the most important role models for children.
Obesity tends to run in families
Eating patterns play a role
Children of active parents are six times more likely to be physically active than kids whose parents are sedentary
Think about eating patterns of your own family? Your friends? What kinds of things do active parents do with their kids?

18. Television & Nutrition
Commercials feature many junk foods that promote weight gain
fast food, soft drinks, sweets and sugar-sweetened breakfast cereals
Children seem to passively consume excessive amounts of energy-dense foods while watching TV
Can anyone think of a commercial for a healthy food? Why are kids especially susceptible to advertising?

19. The typical American child spends about 44
The typical American child spends about 44.5 hours per week using media outside of school.
Wow.. And what do a lot of people do when they watch TV or game? Do they eat? Drink? Is this a sedentary activity? How do you think this number compares with 30 years ago? 30 years ago there were NO personal computers, hardly any cell phones (and they were huge), cassettes were the media of most and noone had even heard of HD anything!!

20. Pick-up or Delivery?
Today, families eat fewer meals together and fewer meals at home
Children tend to eat more food when meals are eaten at a restaurant
Many children eat fast food on a regular basis
Take-out food like pizza or chinese is also popular

21. Between 1977 and 1996, portion sizes grew in the U. S
Between 1977 and 1996, portion sizes grew in the U.S., not only at fast-food outlets but also in homes and restaurants
One study of portion sizes for typical items showed that:
Salty snacks increased from 132 calories to 225 calories
Soft drinks increased from 144 calories to 193 calories
French fries increased from 188 calories to 256 calories
Hamburgers increased from 389 calories to 486 calories

22. Vending Machines
Soda
each 12-oz (though now most are 20-oz) sugared soft drink consumed daily increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%
risk of lack of calcium if students choose sweetened drinks with no nutritional value instead of milk, a good source of vitamins, minerals and protein

23. In 1977-78, drank about four times as much milk as soda
In , drank about four times as much milk as soda. In , they drank about the same amounts of milk and soda

24. Vending Machines
The Center for Science in the Public Interest took a survey of vending machines nationwide in middle and high schools (2004)
The results found that the majority of options were high in calories and/or low in nutrition
in middle school vending machines, 73% of the drinks and 83% of the snacks sold were of poor nutritional value
in high schools, 74% of beverages and 85% of snacks were nutritionally-poor choices
only 12% of available drinks were water

25. A La Carte Selections Resembles fast food
Hamburgers, French fries & pizza
Do not meet the USDA fat recommendations
A recent study published by the American Journal of Public Health suggests that about 35-40% of students reported only eating snack bar items for lunch over the two year study period

26. Simple Solutions

27. Keys to Preventing Obesity
Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is important since change becomes more difficult with age
Education in physical activity and nutrition are the cornerstones of preventing childhood obesity
Schools and families are the two most critical links to decreasing the prevalence of childhood obesity

28. Parent’s and Primary Caregivers Role in Prevention
Create an active environment
Limit amount of TV watching
Plan active family trips such as hiking or skiing
Enroll children in a structured activity that they enjoy

29. Prevention (cont.) Create a healthy eating environment
Implement the same healthy diet for entire family, not just selected individuals
Avoid using food as a reward or the lack of food as a punishment
Encourage kids to eat a variety of fresh produce
(food bland in color often lack nutrients)
Don’t cut out treats all together, think in moderation, or kids will indulge