Other issues of Nutrition Advisor

Obesity—it's not just for grown-ups anymore

Do you find yourself looking around these days in your neighborhoods or at the park and wondering where all the kids are? Does it seem as if there are more kids out there who weigh as much as their adult counterparts? It's not your imagination.

Weight is a growing problem for children
Twenty years ago, 18.6 percent of preschool children were overweight and 8.5 percent were obese. In 2000, 22 percent were overweight and 10 percent were obese. Current statistics estimate that 70 percent of overweight adolescents will become overweight or obese adults. If these overweight kids have overweight parents, then their risk increases to 80 percent.

Along with all of these numbers and pounds come adult health problems such as heart disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer, orthopedic complications, sleep apnea, asthma and liver problems. Do you also remember the day when type II diabetes was commonly referred to as adult-onset diabetes? Not anymore.

Type II diabetes incidence increased almost 10-fold in 12 years among adolescents. Sixty percent of overweight children have at least one cardiovascular risk factor and 20 percent have two or more. Fatty deposits have been found in the heart's arteries in children as young as three years old.

Why is this happening?
Why are so many of our children growing up and growing out? The consensus among experts seems to be a combination of too little activity and poor eating habits. About 50 percent of children age 8 to 16 watch three to five hours of television PER DAY! This does not include the amount of time spent in front of computer screens or video games. These activities may stimulate the mind, but that's where stimulation ends and weight gain begins

Children are now eating less fat than they once did; however, they are eating many more simple carbohydrates (i.e. sugary products) and protein, which means more calories. Most of these foods would end up in the "fats" section of the food guide pyramid. Cookies, chips and juice seem to be staples for a child's lunch. Children are not drinking enough milk or getting enough fruits and vegetables.

What can be done?
It's important to remember that children are still growing, which works much to their advantage since it's possible for them to "grow into" their weight. As they grow in height, their weight may "decrease" in percentiles according to growth charts. Weight maintenance is to an overweight child what weight loss is to an overweight adult.

The American Heart Association supports the use of the Step I diet (30% of total calories per day from fat, 8-10% from saturated fat and 300 mg/day of cholesterol) in children over the age of 2. Children under the age of two have very different and specific nutrient requirements, including the use of whole milk.

Activity and exercise is another key component. The more time children spend moving, the more calories are burned. Rather than encouraging "dieting," the focus should be on a healthy lifestyle, FOR LIFE. Any sort of weight maintenance or weight loss program for a child of any age should be discussed with your pediatrician before it is initiated.

Some tips on creating a healthy lifestyle

• Caregivers are a child's best role model. If you're staying active and eating a balanced diet, they are more likely to follow your lead.
• Keep healthy foods in the house, so your children learn to consider it "the norm."
• Watch for your child's internal hunger cues, and listen when he says, "I'm full." Being part of the "clean plate club" may not send the right message.
• Focus on "5-A-Day" for fruits and vegetables and "3-A-Day" for milk.
• Watch the extra calories in drinks—discourage soda and sugared beverages and dilute juices with water.
• Teach moderation and limit fast food meals to no more than a couple of times a month.
• Do not use food as a reward or punishment.

The Yale-New Haven Nutrition Advisor is created by registered dietitians and dietetic interns who staff the Nutrition Clinic at Yale-New Haven Hospital. For information, contact the Nutrition InfoLine at (203) 688-2422.

For more information on this topic, you could visit:

• Childhood obesity and a diabetes epidemic, New England Journal of Medicine, v. 346, no. 11, March 14, 2002
• Overweight and obesity, Office of the U.S. Surgeon General
• Childhood obesity, American Obesity Association
• Childhood obesity on the rise, The NIH Word on Health, National Institutes of Health
• Increased incidence of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus among adolescents, Journal of Pediatrics. May 1996, v. 128, no. 5
• Obesity and overweight in children, American Heart Association
• Position Paper: Dietary guidance for health children aged 2 to 11 years, American Dietetic Association
• Obesity, MEDLINEplus, National Library of Medicine

Other issues addressed by Yale-New Haven Nutrition Advisor:

• Fruits and vegetables: Always in season
• Calcium: Not just for bones anymore!
• Mercury Rising
• A powerful B vitamin: Folate
• Vegging out
• Manic for organic
• Beta carotene
• Shellfish & cholesterol
• Sorting through nutrition information
• Summer fruit sensations
• Make it fun in the sun (outdoor food safety tips)
• Eat any sugar alcohol lately?
• Creating a garden rich in antioxidants
• Food safety in the kitchen

Last revised: March 10, 2005 (jj)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.