Introduction to Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is, "a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height"(Mayo Clinic, 2008). It is an epidemic that is growing. This issue has not always been a noted problem in the United States until the late 1900's. According to theNational Institutes of Health, "The number of children who are overweight has doubled in the last two to three decades; currently one child in five is overweight." The increase in percentages over time will become a problem for the future of our children. For the first time in history, American children could have a shorter life span than their parents.

One in three children in the U.S. is considered overweight or obese. Childhood obesity affects all population groups; both male and female. It leads to many health and social consequences that can continue on into later life. Prevention is the key, but unfortunately there isn't a magic formula for each individaul. Unfortuanately, there are many challenges that prevent a solution to childhood obesity. Three areas of intervention include the following:

- Physical Activity
- Healthy Diet
- Behavior Modification

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Media

On average how many hours of TV do children and teens watch daily? I posted a poll a while back and most people thought about 2-3 hours or more than 5. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), kids in the U.S. watch about 4 hours of TV daily! By the time one graduates from high school, more time will have been spent watching television than spent in the classroom. Time in front of the TV, computer, or playing video games takes away from other important activities such as homework, reading, playing, exercising, and interaction with family and friends. Children are also exposed to thousands of commercials each year. A study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that one-third of commercials aimed at children are advertising candy or snacks.

Kids who spend more time in front of the television are at more of a risk of being overweight or obese. First of all, they aren't exercising or being active. Many kids come home from school and go straight to the TV for hours rather than going out to play. Oh and don't forget the snacking that takes place as well. Second, kids are influenced by the junk food advertisements. According to the AAP, children in the U.S. see about 40,000 commercials every year. These advertisements encourage unhealthy foods such as chips and empty-calorie beverages that children start to prefer.

What can you do as a parent?
- Limit amout of TV each day and week
- Don't allow TV during family meals
- Set a weekday as a "no TV" day
- Don't allow TV while doing homework
- Limit snacks when watching TV and choose healthy snacks
- Offer fun alternatives to watching TV
- Treat TV as a privilege that your child can earn
- Don't have a TV in a child's bedroom
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1 comment:

Katie said...

I definitely think that it is a good idea to limit the amount of time children spend in front of the TV. But we are fighting against entertainment. Toys are starting to create interactive video games for children. Whatever happened to playing outside? We need to bring people back to the basics of having fun outside and spending time with one another without a TV in front of them.

December 1, 2008 at 1:41 PM

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