Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is rising throughout the world. Obesity is defined as having too much body fat. A child is obese if their weight is more than 20% higher than the ideal weight for a boy or girl of their age and height. Studies have shown a dramatic rise in the number of obese children in the last few decades in this country. Between 1980 and 2000 obesity rates doubled among children and tripled among teens. In the United States alone there are approximately 25 million overweight children and adolescents. Many of these are considered obese and the others are at risk of becoming obese. This paper will explore this phenomenon, why it is happening, its causes and what we can do to combat this problem.

There are several reasons why children are becoming obese. Many studies have shown that there is not a big difference in the amount of food eaten and physical activity between obese and non-obese kids. Probably small differences in eating and activity over time really add up and lead to weight gain. Obese children do tend to eat larger portions or higher calorie foods, like high-fat foods.

Physical activity and inactivity are very important factors. Many studies have shown that kids who spend more time watching television and playing video games are at higher risk of becoming overweight. One in three high school youth do not engage in vigorous physical activity. Less than 30% attend daily gym class. Dangerous neighborhoods and sprawling development also discourages physical activity and makes walking and biking difficult or dangerous is also a factor.

The risk of becoming obese is greatest among children who have two obese parents. This may be due to powerful genetic factors or to parental modeling of both eating and exercise behaviors, indirectly affecting the child's energy balance. One half of parents of elementary school children never exercise vigorously. Heredity has recently been shown to influence fatness, regional fat distribution, and response to overfeeding. In addition, infants born to overweight mothers have been found to be less active and to gain more weight by age three months when compared with infants of normal weight mothers, suggesting a possible inborn drive to conserve energy.

Parents may be major contributors to childhood obesity. Many parents fail to recognize when their child is overweight or obese, the results of a new study indicate. A team of researchers surveyed the parents of 277 children and found that just one-quarter recognized if their child was overweight. Furthermore where children were obese, over half of fathers and one-third of mothers described the child as being 'about right'. The study indicated that some parents are relatively unconcerned about their children's weight problems. While over half of those with obese children expressed some concern, just one-quarter of parents with overweight children said that they were even 'a little worried about it'. Not surprisingly perhaps, misjudging weight problems was not just confined to their children. In fact, among the parents who were overweight themselves, 45% of fathers and 40% of mothers felt that their own weight was 'about right'. One in ten parents expressed some concern about underweight in normal weight children.

While parents are among the major culprits when children pack on the pounds. Additionally, most schools serve lunches that are high in fat and include choices from fast-food chains. Currently, there is no evidence that children are born with a preference for high fat foods. Rather, experts believe that liking certain foods is learned through repeated experiences with such foods. Observing what and how their parents eat also may shape children's food preferences. Parents are role models; consequently, if they like to eat high fat food, their children will likely do the same.

Some people feel that parents not reacting to their childs weight problems is another form of child abuse. In a recent article in a Michigan newspaper an editorial written by a concerned person stated the following: "What are parents of already obese, 8~10 year old kids thinking when the kids are gorging on 1/2 pound burgers and massive amounts of Coca Cola? Don't they worry about the potentially life-threatening medical conditions that their kids can develop in future if they continue to pile on fat? It's not like "oh. I didn't notice"Ð'...especially when you have an 8~10 year old kid weighing 200+ pounds. Kids don't become obese overnightÐ'...it takes years of bad-food-habits. So if you notice your child storing a lot of fat, and you know that it's not good, and even after this you encourage (or do not discourage) junk food, what is it if it's not criminal negligence? What divine intervention do these parents need to make them start telling their kids about the importance of good health?"

Other people blame excessive weight on the commercials about fatty, low nutrition, high calorie foods shown constantly on the television. But, are parents to blame also? More than 77 percent of adults surveyed by Mintel cited that parents are to blame for the national crisis. Data from the Bureau of Labor cites that both American children and parents are spending increased time commuting from work, school and activities. Eating takes place en route from one venue or another, making sitting down to a home-cooked, carefully balanced meal even less of a reality for families. The absence of regulated family eating schedules was cited as one of the main causes of poor dietary habits.

Another major concern cited by respondents should serve as a warning to food makers that they are not about to be let off the hook just yet. For example, 93 percent of respondents felt that junk food continues to play a strong role in childhood obesity issues. According to Mintel's Menu Insights, a menu-tracking system, more than 47 percent of children's menu items were fried. Chicken fingers led the way on the top 5 children's menu dishes list, followed by grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, macaroni and cheese, and hot dogs. Mintel's report also cites that overall restaurant portions have also steadily increased over time.

Clearly, the food industry needs to respond to changing eating patterns in a more health-conscious way. Television advertising is also coming under closer scrutiny. Of the estimated 40,000 television commercials children view a year, 32 percent are for candy, 31 percent for cereal, and 9 percent for fast food. According to research by Kristen Harrison, a speech communication professor at the University of Illinois, these nutrient-poor high-sugar products continue to dominate television advertising aimed at children between the ages of six to 11. It remains to be seen whether