childhood obesity problems, causes & solutions by eddie & krista
TRANSCRIPT
Childhood ObesityProblems, Causes & Solutions
by
Eddie & Krista
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.
Implementing prevention programs and getting a better understanding of adequate treatment is important to controlling this obesity epidemic.
What’s the Big Deal?
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
Effects on the Child
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
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
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
People who are obese or overweight People who are obese or overweight also have a lower life expectancyalso have a lower life expectancy
A 40-year-old nonsmoking male who is overweight will lose 3.1 years of 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 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; overweight nonsmoking female will lose 3.3 years of life expectancy; one who is obese will lose 7.1 years.one who is obese will lose 7.1 years.
How to Tell If Your Child is Overweight or Obese
Indicators
Growth Chart– 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
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
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)
What does the 95th percentile BMI score mean?
Correlates to BMI score of 30, which is the marker for obesity in adults
Indication for children and adolescents to have an in-depth medical assessment
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
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 the95th percentile of
Body Mass Index (BMI) 1999 to 2000 15.3%
1988 to 1994 11%
1976 to 1980 7%
What are the Causes?
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
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
The typical American child spends about The typical American child spends about 44.5 hours per week using media outside 44.5 hours per week using media outside of school.of school.
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– Plenty of children eat fast food on a regular basis– Take-out food like pizza or chinese is also popular
Between 1977 and 1996, portion sizes grew in the Between 1977 and 1996, portion sizes grew in the U.S., not only at fast-food outlets but also in homes U.S., not only at fast-food outlets but also in homes and restaurantsand restaurants
One study of portion sizes for One study of portion sizes for typical items showed that:typical items showed that:
– Salty snacks increased from Salty snacks increased from 132 calories to 225 calories132 calories to 225 calories
– Soft drinks increased from Soft drinks increased from 144 calories to 193 calories144 calories to 193 calories
– French fries increased from French fries increased from 188 calories to 256 calories188 calories to 256 calories
– Hamburgers increased from Hamburgers increased from 389 calories to 486 calories 389 calories to 486 calories
Setting Standards
The United States Department of Agriculture developed the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in 1946
The NSLP provides lunches to over twenty-six million children every school day
The lunches must meet the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
– 30% of calories from fat– no more than 10% from saturated fat
Bending the Rules
In the mid-1990s, the USDA researched the relationship between children’s dietary intake and the school lunch program
The results showed that on an average day, NSLP participants consumed more sodium and cholesterol than non participants
Students who participated in the NSLP ate more calories in the form of total fat, as well as saturated fat
– the total percentage of fat for NSLP participants was almost 37%, with saturated fat at over 14%
Food Pyramid & School Lunch
On average, NSLP participants ate only 0.1 servings of whole grains and poultry
0.0 servings of dark-green leafy vegetables, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds were typically consumed
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
In 1977-78, drank aboutIn 1977-78, drank about four times four times as much milk as as much milk as soda. In 2001-02, they drank about the same soda. In 2001-02, they drank about the same amounts of milk and sodaamounts of milk and soda
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
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
Simple Solutions
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
Parent’s 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
Parent’s role (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 their colors;” (food bland in color often lack nutrients)– Don’t cut out treats all together, think in
moderation, or kids will indulge
Schools Are Only Exercising Our Minds
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:– Nationwide, approximately 56% of high
school students were enrolled in a physical education class and only 29% attended PE class daily (1999)
What Should Schools Revise?
POLICY– Schools should establish policies that require
daily physical education and comprehensive health education in grades K-12
– Schools and government should provide adequate funding, equipment, and supervision for programs that meet needs of all students
What Should Schools Revise?
ENVIRONMENT– Provide adequate school time for physical
activity American Heart Association recommends 30-60
minutes of vigorous activities at least 3-4 times each week
– Discourage the use or withholding of physical activity as punishment
It’s as Easy as Cake…
THE
END