An article in the NY Times yesterday said the childhood obesity rates seem to have hit a "plateau" in the US, meaning that they are no longer significantly increasing, nor do they appear to be decreasing. Maybe it's not bad news, so to speak, but I wouldn't call it good news, either.
So, yes, it is good that it no longer seems to be rising significantly, but any rise in childhood obesity, even if it is considered "not statistically significant," is too much. Small rises every year will eventually lead to an even larger group of children suffering from health problems.
Children really have no control over what they eat, for the most part. We cannot expect them to say, "One scoop of ice cream is enough," or, "I want chicken for dinner because it is healthier than hamburger." Kids are going to eat what parents buy for them, and, to me, it seems that too many parents are in a hurry, and end up relying on too much fast food, or processed garbage snacks. Advertising plays its part in childhood obesity, with the flashy commercials that convince kids they need to have this or that snack, but, in the end, it's up to the parents. A big part of keeping your child healthy is getting them outside to play! I don't really understand the video game/TV obsession with children... when I was a kid, I lived outside!
I think an important part in working on the problem is to make changes in our own lives, as adults. If our children see that we are willing to turn the TV off and go outside, they will follow. If they see us eating an apple for a snack or only one scoop of ice cream for dessert, they will be more inclined to do the same. If all they see is adults eating junk food and never getting any exercise, why would they want to live any differently?
It is not clear if the lull in childhood weight gain is permanent or even if it is the result of public anti-obesity efforts to limit junk food and increase physical activity in schools. Doctors noted that even if the trend held up, 32 percent of American schoolchildren remained overweight or obese, representing an entire generation that will be saddled with weight-related health problems as it ages.
So, yes, it is good that it no longer seems to be rising significantly, but any rise in childhood obesity, even if it is considered "not statistically significant," is too much. Small rises every year will eventually lead to an even larger group of children suffering from health problems.
Some children go through phases where, no matter how healthy they eat, they stay chubby. My brother went through a phase like that for a good portion of his teenage years and is now, at almost 21, having a hard time keeping any weight on! These aren't the children I am most worried about. I am worried about the children who gain weight because their parents allow them to eat anything that they want. I am worried about the children who learn that if they complain about wanting something enough, the parent gives in because they don't want to hear anymore whining. We were at the mall a couple of weeks ago, and saw a young boy, probably about 10 years old. He was so overweight that his mother had to put a stool in front of their minivan so that he could get in. My heart went out to him because he is not going to have an easy life, and I'm sure he is already suffering from childhood taunting, and possibly even health problems already. These children are learning bad habits that not only affect their weight and their health, possibly for years to come, but that can also affect their lives as adults. If we teach our children that they can get whatever they want just by complaining, how are they going to survive in the real world?
Children really have no control over what they eat, for the most part. We cannot expect them to say, "One scoop of ice cream is enough," or, "I want chicken for dinner because it is healthier than hamburger." Kids are going to eat what parents buy for them, and, to me, it seems that too many parents are in a hurry, and end up relying on too much fast food, or processed garbage snacks. Advertising plays its part in childhood obesity, with the flashy commercials that convince kids they need to have this or that snack, but, in the end, it's up to the parents. A big part of keeping your child healthy is getting them outside to play! I don't really understand the video game/TV obsession with children... when I was a kid, I lived outside!
While the latest data suggest the obesity epidemic may have been contained, researchers say the real question is whether it is possible to reverse the obesity trend among American schoolchildren.
“We still lack anything resembling a national strategy to take this problem seriously,” said Dr. Ludwig, co-author of an editorial accompanying the obesity report. “The rates of obesity in children are so hugely high that without any further increases, the impact of this epidemic will be felt with increasing severity for many years to come.”
I think an important part in working on the problem is to make changes in our own lives, as adults. If our children see that we are willing to turn the TV off and go outside, they will follow. If they see us eating an apple for a snack or only one scoop of ice cream for dessert, they will be more inclined to do the same. If all they see is adults eating junk food and never getting any exercise, why would they want to live any differently?
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May 30th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Thanks for adding some sense to these numbers. I didn't see this story as any reason to celebrate, either. There's been no reversal. We're still saddling kids with health problems they may have for the rest of their lives. The extra weight is going to change the way their bones grow and their organs develop - usually for the worse.
So where's the good news, again?
Quote This CommentMay 30th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Jay Andrew Allen said:
That is a very good point, and one that I hadn't thought of. Even if the child can develop a sense of eating healthy later in life, that could be a problem that will be difficult or impossible to fix.
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