Childhood Obesity: Causes
When I was a kid, eating out was a treat. My widowed mother worked hard to make ends meet. We didn't have a great deal of disposable income and there was no such thing as an allowance but we splurged on dinner at the local McDonald's a few times a month. She made dinner on most other nights and although her home-cooked meals were not always the healthiest, they were always balanced. We were never hungry.
I had a hearty appetite and loved to eat as a child. White bread, cheese, bacon, butter, fried foods, Doritos, Crunchies, ketchup and excessive amounts of sugar were every-day staples for me for quite some time. My saving grace for not becoming overweight as a young child was lots of physical activity. I took recess and gym while in school and rode my bike, played kick-ball or bounced on my pogo stick after school. Admittedly, I watched too much television at night but it all seemed to balance out; at least until I hit my late teens. Eventually, I became more sedentary and continued to eat too much of the wrong foods. I put on weight and developed high cholesterol by the time I was in my late teens/early twenties.
Most of our children are obese because they're eating too much of the wrong foods and are not getting enough exercise. At the core of the matter are issues like accessibility, affordability and culture. Kids have unprecedented access to fast food and junk food while the availability of healthier food options, whole foods, fruits and vegetables is limited, especially in low-income and urban neighborhoods.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise to me that low-income black and Hispanic children have higher rates of obesity than children of other ethnic groups.
Research done at the University of Washington a few years ago found that calorie for calorie, junk foods cost less than fruits and vegetables. "If you have $3 to feed yourself, you are going to gravitate toward foods which give you the most calories per dollar…Not only are the empty calories cheaper, but healthy foods are becoming more and more expensive. Vegetables and fruits are rapidly becoming luxury good," said Dr, Adam Drewnowski, lead research author.
I agree. After all, Whole Foods (WFs) wasn't nicknamed "Whole Paycheck" for nothing. And it's not just WFs, organic fruit and vegetables, free-range and grass-fed meats, non-genetically modified foods, wild-caught fish, and foods free of high fructose corn syrup, antibiotics, growth hormones, artificial sweeteners and preservatives are more expensive where ever you can find them.
Grassroots efforts like community gardens, farmers markets and food co-ops are a few great ways to make fruits and vegetables more accessible in communities with poor access (food deserts). More important however, we must focus on family-centered education. Kids are being exposed to information while in school but their parents and caregivers need a steady stream of information that is useful, realistic and relevant.
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Childhood Obesity: Facts
Combating childhood obesity requires a comprehensive approach that includes policy change, intervention, prevention, education and outreach. Parents, caregivers, health and fitness professionals, community leaders, educators, policy makers and public officials all play a key role in helping to bring about real change. That said, here's a quick run down of some current facts:
Obesity is determined by the Body Mass Index (BMI). Children with a BMI over the 85th but less than the 95th percentile are considered overweight. Children with a BMI greater than the 95th percentile are considered obese Learn More
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the obesity rate in children has doubled over the past 20 years. The obesity rate in adolescents has tripled.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found childhood obesity to be more prevalent among low-income and children of color.
The Centers for Disease Control reports that black and Hispanic children have higher rates of obesity than non-Hispanic white children.
Experts believe that parents will outlive their children as a result of (childhood) obesity-related diseases and conditions.
Obese children have a higher risk of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.
Obese children have a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
Obese children can develop gallstones and fatty liver disease.
Sleep apnea, asthma and trouble breathing are common conditions in obese children.
Obese children are more likely to experience low self-esteem, negative body image and depression.
Obese children are teased or bullied more than non-obese children.
According to The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity (2007), obese children perceive the most immediate consequence of being overweight as social discrimination.
Most will agree that we have a social and economic epidemic on our hands. Fortunately, the private and public sectors are coming together to tackle this problem. For more information or help getting involved at your level, check out the following resources:
