September 2010: National Childhood

Obesity Awareness Month

Congress has unanimously voted to designate September 2010 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in an effort to call attention to this public health crisis. More than 23 million children and teenagers are overweight, a number which meets the criteria to be considered an epidemic. Worse, are the co-morbid conditions that are associated with excess weight including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and even cancer, which have been rising at an alarming rate in our youth. The health care costs associated with treating this epidemic in just our youth alone exceeds $14 billion per year, not to mention its psychosocial effects which have far more reaching and un-measurable consequences. Fortunately, there are opportunities every day to change these statistics.    

The effort begins at home. A healthy lifestyle is a family issue and something the whole family needs to be involved in, whether it is a child affected by overweight, an adult or both. Parents have an enormous influence over their children’s lives by the decisions they make and the examples they set. Modeling healthier lifestyle habits will not only make parents feel more healthy and energetic, but will also foster health in kids, who then grow to be healthy teens and young adults. Creating a healthy lifestyle now ensures a healthy lifestyle in the future for children as well as adults.

In observance of the first National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, organizations, health care advocates, communities, and families nationwide are planning events and activities to build awareness and teach information about childhood obesity and ways to end it. The following are simple steps that I recommend which the whole family can take to begin the process of making healthy lifestyle changes.

1) Prepare, cook and eat healthy meals at home.  It is no secret that you are what you eat and good nutrition leads to good health. While you may already know this, you may find it a bit difficult to sort through all of the information about nutrition and food choices. A good first step towards healthier living would be to eat a minimum of 5-A-Day fruits and vegetables. Please keep in mind that is intended to be a good first step and is not the actual current recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake. I always recommend color and variety and tell my patients to think of ROYGBIV, which most children know as the colors of the rainbow. In addition, when children are involved in the preparation of a meal, the more they are apt to try new things. Parents can always use meal preparation time as an opportunity for discussion about where our food comes from. Remember too, about teaching children the importance of being thankful for their food, a ritual that is often forgotten.  

2) Eat smart when eating out. It can be tempting to make unhealthy food choices when eating out but there are usually healthy entrees and/or side dishes on the menu that can be ordered instead. Keep in mind what a normal serving size really is, as restaurants portions are typically two, three or even four times more than normal. Keep in mind too, that eating out can get to be pretty expensive in the long run and that those value meals could really end up costing more on your wallet and more on the health of your child now and in the future.

3) Be active. Regular physical activity decreases the risk for and helps prevent many diseases, helps control weight, helps to build healthy bones and strengthen muscles. In addition, physical activity gives one a sense of accomplishment and helps build self confidence. As a parent, you can help shape your child’s attitude toward physical activity by setting a positive example and leading an active lifestyle yourself. Physical activity does not have to be strenuous or boring. Instead, do various and fun activities such as family walks or playing active games together. Limit TV watching and computer time and give your child toys that encourage being active, such as a soccer ball or basketball. Remember to think about safety and provide the necessary protective equipment. For some parents, making the time for regular physical activity with your children may seem challenging at first but basically anything counts as long as it is done at a moderate intensity for at least ten minutes at a time. Doing moderate physical activity is safe for most people but if you have a chronic health condition, be sure to talk to your health care provider first. In support of the first National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, the Wallingford Health Department and Wallingford YMCA are sponsoring a One Mile Health Walk on Saturday, October 2^nd at 10:00am starting at the Town Green. Hope to see you there! 

4) Build self esteem. Children are often ridiculed at school and may suffer psychological stress and the social stigma that is still attached to being overweight which can lead to low self-esteem. Provide a loving home environment, be non-judgmental and facilitate verbalization of feelings. Offer support and reassurance. Encourage children to create their own ideas about healthy living and support them in their ideas. A child should never be made to feel that he or she needs to go on a diet. Remember, it is all about making lifestyle changes and not about going on a diet.  

Childhood obesity can be prevented. As adults, it is important to develop the knowledge, attitudes, behavior, skills and confidence needed to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle so that our children will follow in our footsteps. It is up to all adults to lead the way.