Information on Children and Obesity

Home >> Parenting & Families >> Children and Obesity

Children and Obesity

Twenty to 30 percent of American children and adolescents are estimated to beoverweight, which is traditionally defined as 10 to 20 percent over "ideal" tobetter term would be "appropriate") weight' for age and height or obese (morethan 20 percent over appropriate weight). It is important to understand thagthe significance of a given weight depends not only upon age and height bigalso on general build and percentage of body fat. For example, a muscularwell-conditioned athlete may technically weigh more than the ideal amount fahis height, but his percentage of body fat may be normal or even low.

Normally height and weight are entered on a growth chart as part of routinephysical examinations, and very often a look at the pattern of these measure-ments over a period of time can clarify concerns about a child's weight. If yourchild or adolescent is more than 20 percent overweight, a medical evaluationappropriate, whether as part of a regular checkup or during a special visit. Whileit is unlikely that the doctor will find a treatable disease that is responsible for theweight problem, it is most important to seek help and begin to work with thechild on this problem for the following reasons:

• Eating and weight patterns established in childhood tend to persist intoadulthood. The longer the problem continues, the more the odds againstreaching a normal adult weight worsen. One in four obese childrenentering adolescence will eventually reach a normal weight, but only onein twenty-eight who are obese at the end of adolescence will accomplishthis goal.

• Long-standing obesity is associated with a host of health problems laterin life, including elevated blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, gall bladderdisease, and painful destructive changes in joints.

• Even more significant for obese children and adolescents is the cruel andrelentless psychological (and at times even physical) abuse that theynearly always receive from peers. Name calling, isolation, and otherforms of social brutality are the order of the day for the overweightchild, leaving emotional wounds that could take years to heal—if theyever do.

Once medical causes and/or effects of obesity in a child have been assessed,specific nutritional guidelines should be obtained from a qualified professional.If at all possible, this input should be provided by a registered dietitian whoworks with young people, since weight management for children and adoles-cents who are still growing is not a simple matter of "just eat less" or "just go ona diet." Indeed, food restrictions that leave a child constantly hungry are potentiallyharmful, both physically and emotionally. Even if you or some other member ofthe family has benefited from a specific eating plan or weight-loss program, donot impose that program on your child or adolescent. Her physiology and situ-ation are unique, and any program she undertakes should be under the guid-ance of a physician and/or nutrition counselor. The amounts and types of foodsmust be adequate to meet her ongoing needs for growth and development,while at the same time allowing either for gradual loss of weight, holding it level,or slowing its rate of increase. Mapping out the appropriate changes requiressome expertise.

A dietitian might ask you and your child to keep a detailed food diary fortwo or three weeks before attempting any dietary modifications. This can pro-vide insight into the relationship between eating patterns and the current weight.Often the overweight child or adolescent is not consuming more calories thanher lean counterpart, and this observation will need to be considered in thecourse of nutritional planning. The diary may also reveal specific food choicesthat are contributing to the weight problem.

How Parents Can Help Their Overweight Child

Once reasonable goals have been set and a basic course mapped out, there are anumber of contributions parents can make to help their child achieve a properweight:

On supportive and matter-of-fact about what needs to be done. The last thingoverweight child or adolescent needs is another critic. Whatever insults she has:.heard from an insensitive cohort at school she has probably said to hers&Harping on the weight problem not only adds to the shame, guilt, and sd5--loathing, but it may even push her toward more extreme and destructive eat.behaviors.

Instill the concept of making wise food choices for life, rather than for just "going a diet." A diet has a lot in common with a jail sentence—a time of deprivatioresulting from a crime (eating too much). When the sentence is served, very cloten it's back to business as usual. Furthermore, after the body has been deprivethrough a diet, it may become even more efficient at storing fat. As a result, thdieter can actually gain back more weight than she lost.
Give your child as much responsibility as possible in her food choices, appropriatewith her age. You can only push the right food choices for so long. Eventually shewill need to make the process her own and enforce her own decisions. Thesooner this happens, the better, especially if she has already entered adolescence.

Model healthy eating habits. Leading by example is much more effective than giv-ing a lot of directions. Because of genetics, lifestyle, or both, it is not unusual formore than one family member to be struggling with extra pounds. The choice,that benefit the overweight child or adolescent will most likely be helpful for eseryone else around the table.
Help your child avoid temptation. It's easier to make healthy food choices whenhealthy foods are the only kinds available. If the shelves at home are stocked withcalorie-dense, high-fat snacks and sweets, don't expect any great progress. Arethere family habits or traditions, such as eating continuously while watching avideo or playing a game, that are contributing to the problem?

Encourage and model physical activity. Many overweight children and adolescentare also very inactive. The goal should be to find an activity such as walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, or basketball that increases oxygen consumption consinuously for fifteen to thirty minutes most days of the week. If this meansconverting some time spent in front of TV and video games into exercise, all thebetter for both body and mind. Needless to say, all of your encouragement to "gcoutside and get some exercise" will be much more meaningful if you are doinglikewise.

Other Parenting Artcles:

Home :: Contact Us :: About Us :: Privacy Policy :: Terms of Use :: Site Map