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Childhood Obesity: A Growing Epidemic
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Startling Statistics Adapted from: “From 1963 to 2002, the number of overweight children aged 6 to 19 quadrupled. Children who are overweight or obese now represent 30 percent of those aged 6 to 9, and 20 percent of 2- to 5-year olds.” Source: A.A. Hedley, C.L. Ogden, C.L. Johnson, et al, “Overweight
and Obesity Among US Children, Adolescents, and Adults 1999-2002,” JAMA,
vol. 291 (2004), pp. 2847-2850. Source: Lara Trifiletti, Wendy Shields, et al, “Tipping the Scales: Obese Children and Child Safety Seats,” Pediatrics, vol. 117, no. 4 (2006), pp. 1197-1202. “Cardiovascular disease is being manifested at younger and younger ages, and Type 2 diabetes is now seen in children as young as 6 years of age. Other problems include fatty liver, gallstones, sleep apnea, and bone and joint problems.” Source: William H. Dietz, “Health Consequences of Obesity in
Youth: Childhood Predictors of Adult Disease,” Pediatrics, vol.
101 (1998), pp. 518-525. |
On-the-Go Dinner We know that it’s easy to be super-sized by fast food, but just how many calories are really in there? Burger King McDonald’s Taco Bell Starbucks Domino’s Subway Whataburger Eegee’s (Source: restaurant websites) |
A recent statistic from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta states that one out of every five children in the United States is severely overweight, impacting nearly half the families across the country.
That statistic should be a wake-up call for parents, according to pediatrician Joani Jack, M.D. and Judy Halliday R.N. In response to the growing epidemic, they have written a book called Raising Fit Kids in a Fat World (2008, Regal Books), offering facts, faith and common sense to help parents raise emotionally healthy and fit kids.
“This generation of children faces a future of unprecedented medical consequences related to obesity. Diseases previously seen only in adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol abnormalities, and many others, are now occurring in children,” Jack says.
“Society encourages us to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and to stop whenever we want. As the world around us pursues a feel-good lifestyle, our health is suffering. Quick fixes work for a short time and then trigger an inevitable breakdown,” Halliday says. Raising Fit Kids in a Fat World doesn’t advocate diets or quick fixes; it’s a holistic lifestyle change.
Even though Arizona is known for its great outdoor activities, we are not immune to the problem. According to the CDC, in 2000-2003, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which monitors priority health-risk behaviors and the prevalence of obesity among youth and young adults, shows that 14% of Arizona high school students were at risk for becoming overweight, and 11% were overweight.
Arizonan Wil Pakeman and his brother, Marcus, started the HEALTHEE Foundation to raise awareness to the problem.
“Childhood Obesity is a very important issue because of the health problems involved, such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes, gall-bladder disease, and heart disease. These are just a few diseases that are linked with childhood obesity,” says Wil Pakeman, CEO of HEALTHEE Foundation. “This issue is important to me because I've struggled with weight issues as a youth, and type II diabetes runs through my family. So it's very important to get a positive message out regarding healthy eating to our youth.”
To get the message out, the Pakeman brothers, along with illustrator Jose Banuelos, have written two books to help children understand healthy eating habits and the importance of daily exercise.
“We made the books fun and educational, and showed how our characters who once struggled with obesity overcame their fight.
We show practical suggestions and we seem to be making progress with children who have read the books,” says Pakeman.
So how can families make changes to their lifestyles that will create a healthier atmosphere?
Authors Jack and Halliday outline the three core concepts of healthy eating: portion control, nutritional meals and regular exercise. They emphasize the importance of listening to natural body cues of hunger and satisfaction. Going beyond simple diet books, the authors address the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs of children.
Pakeman also suggests that parents need to be proactive in setting standards in food consumption and exercise in their homes.
“Parents need to understand that they are the ones that need to make conscious decisions for their children regarding food, and it will eventually trickle down to their child. I believe children need treats, and wholesome snacks, but moderation is key in this whole process,” says Pakeman.
For more information on the HEALTHEE Foundation, visit their website at www.healtheefoundation.com. Members from the Foundation, as well as costumed book characters, are available for school or private group visits.
Raising Fit Kids in a Fat World can be purchased locally at Borders Book Store or online at www.borders.com
To read the article, The School Health Index as an Impetus for Change, go
to
http://www.cdc.gov/ pcd/issues/2005/jan/04_0076.htm.
© 2008 Good News Tucson™
Tucson Kids