Stop Sugar Coating Childhood Obesity

A recent study done at the University of Kansas Medical Center found that people living in rural areas were 18% more likely to be obese than their urban counterparts.  In addition, the CDC found in 2011 that the state of Missouri was ranked in the top eight most obese states with 30.3% of the population being overweight.  Adair County has similarly high rates of obesity with 35.2% of the population being obese.  Sadly, the percentage of overweight and obese children is growing at alarming rates with the American Academy of Pediatrics estimating that one out of every three children is overweight or obese.  In order to crack down on pediatric obesity and improve overall health for children, parents must teach children good nutritional habits and encourage regular exercise. 

Preventing kids from becoming overweight means improving family lifestyles.  It is essential for parents to create a home where healthy choices are encouraged and available.   The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages children to eat breakfast every day, eat regular meals together as a family, eat a diet rich in calcium and fiber, and to prepare foods at home together.  Studies estimate that over half Americans grew up abiding by the “clean plate club” rules when parents required their children to eat everything on their plates.  This “clean plate club” style of eating has lead to significant overeating.  It is important to let kids stop eating when they feel they’ve had enough.  Children are less likely to overeat when they learn to notice and respond to feelings of fullness. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to pay less attention to how “clean” your child’s plate is at the end of a meal and instead focus on what you serve in the first place. The quality over quantity approach to eating will allow children to develop healthier attitudes toward food.

Healthy active children are more likely to become healthy active adults.  Now more than ever life has become more sedentary not only for adults but for children as well. Kids are spending significant more time in front of television and computer screens and playing electronic, handheld games instead of actively playing outside.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends limiting the time kids over 2 years of age spend in front of a screen to no more than 1-2 hours. The AAP also discourages any screen time for children younger than 2 years.  Parents must encourage children actively play outside.

            The more parents are involved encouraging healthy eating habits and physical activity, the less frequent pediatric obesity will be.  Parents are the first line of defense in preventing obesity for children.  Let us set good examples, encourage nutritious food choices, and exercise regularly not only to improve our own lives, but also to improve the lives of our children.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 10, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov

Healthy Active Living for Families. (n.d.). Healthy Children. Retrieved September 13, 2012, from www.healthychildren.org

KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health. (n.d.). KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health. Retrieved September 27, 2012, from http://www.kidshealth.org

Let's Move!. (n.d.). Let's Move!. Retrieved September 27, 2012, from http://www.letsmove.gov