Obese Kids – It’s a Growing Problem

Before you dash to the drive-through for the kids’ dinner tonight, consider this fact: one in five children in the United States is obese, and the problem is growing fast.

"We are experiencing an epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents," says Robert P. Schwartz, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist at Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. "And this is taking a toll on our children’s health. We are seeing a significant increase in type 2 diabetes, and most of these cases are related to obesity. Until now, this was virtually unheard of."

In the past 10 years, the prevalence of obesity has doubled for children and adolescents, says Schwartz. High calorie snacks and fast foods coupled with a sedentary lifestyle are contributing to this expanding problem.

"As a pediatrician, I see children and teenagers every week who are overweight and obese," he said. "As a result of their weight, these children also feel left out of social circles and may have a poor self-image."

Reversing this trend is possible, according to Schwartz. But to set the right example, parents need to get off the sidelines and into the action.

"Children whose parents are physically active are six times more likely to be active than children whose parents are inactive. By encouraging more activities with family participation and setting limits on TV time and computer games, we can slow down this epidemic."

"Cleaning up" our kitchens by tossing out the high-fat, high-calorie snack food is another important step in the right direction.

"It is unrealistic to expect a child or teen-ager to have the will power to avoid these foods when they are readily available and consumed by other family members," Schwartz said.

Reading food labels and reducing the number of times a family dines out each week can also help. Schwartz suggests that for families on the go, frozen microwave dinners offer healthier choices than fast food. Meats should be lean, and baked or broiled, not fried. And, he stresses, children need more fruits and vegetables.

A recent survey showed that only 20 percent of children consumed the recommended five or more servings of fruit and vegetables each day – and 25 percent of the "vegetables" were French fries.

"We have to do a better job of providing healthy choices for our children and setting better examples for them in our own lifestyle choices," Schwartz said.

Take Action for a Healthier Lifestyle

Get the Facts. To learn the fat and calorie contents of your favorite fast foods, and get fitness tips, check out www.wfubmc.edu/nutrition/in.html or www.besthealth.com for more healthy lifestyle information.

Ditch that soda! The average teenager drinks nearly 65 gallons of soft drinks a year – empty calories that can add up fast. In the last 20 years, kids have more than doubled the amount of carbonated beverages they drink. And don’t assume that fruit drinks are a better choice, says Dr. Schwartz. There’s more sugar in Fruitopia than there is in Coke. Skim milk and water are a kid’s best choices.

Take a hike! Walking time makes for great "talking time" to stay up-to-date with what’s on your kids’ minds, plus you get a calorie-burning cardiovascular workout.

Write it down! Have kids keep a food record to see how the food they eat measures up to the recommended nutrition pyramid. Chart your fitness activities, such as mileage if you walk together.

Keep it fun! Vary your activities so exercise remains a pleasure, not a chore.