Childhood Obesity- What can I do as a parent?

Obesity- the ever-growing problem in America, but children too?

While most of the population is familiar with adult obesity, it is often unrecognized the amount of children who are classified as obese. According to McCormack and Meendering (2016), “31.8% of youth in the United States aged 2 to 19 years are overweight or obese (and nearly 17% are obese), a recent meta-analysis indicates that odds of obesity among rural youth are 26% higher than for urban youth. Why?

The research from the studies analyzed by McCormack and Meendering (2016) indicated that rural youth often consumed more calories, 2-3 cups of dairy, and less than 2 cups of fruit each day. The study also indicated that urban youth tend to consume more vegetables than rural youth. From the many surveys analyzed on if children were meeting the physical activity recommendations, the majority indicated that rural children were more frequently meeting the activity recommendation when compared to urban and suburban children. While the results conflict, it is likely that rural children still have a higher percentage of obesity due to the composition of the diet.





Overweight and obesity are defined using growth charts produced by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The charts noted to the left and right- however there will be different charts for stature-weight for age and BMI based on gender and age of the child.




As a parent learning your child is obese can be heartbreaking, but how do you handle that situation properly? Should you allow the child to continue to “grow into their weight” or should interventions be made? While these two choices seem to be polar opposites, they can also work together to form a positive solution for a child or teenager. By making overall healthier choices in the household and at school, continued growth will help balance out the child’s weight/body mass index.

The most difficult situation is when your child approaches you with “I’m fat!” What is the best way to handle that situation? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, specifically Denny (2014), released 6 tips on how to handle this situation.

1. Don’t Talk, Do Something- this means don’t just talk to the child about weight problems, begin making lifestyle changes as a family.
2. Don’t Play the Blame Game- the worse children feel about their weight or are bribed into losing weight the more likely they are to develop an eating disorder
3. A United Front- have the whole family on board to make changes and be a support system.
4. Talk with Your Health Care Provider- they can help provide ideas on how to make these positive changes and assess your child’s weight.
5. Seek Advice- registered dietitians who specialize in pediatric weight management are a great resource
6. Focus On the Big Picture- the key is health, not weight. 

Exercise can also be a crucial area, as mentioned above, to maintaining a regular weight. Schools and communities across the country are working together to provide fun, safe environments for children to play/exercise. Many schools are also providing recess or physical education classes to help meet exercise recommendations. By making physical activity fun, children are more likely to participate and want to join in.

In some cases getting children on board to make diet and exercise changes can be difficult because of the many other external influences they face between school and other activities. Peers, school systems, and even after-school care facilities may not always abide by specific nutrition guidelines or recommendations. In some situations, students are able to get additional portions of food after the initial meal. As a parent it can be difficult to work around games, homework, and other busy schedules, but there are many resources available to make it easier.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously created the MyPyramid guidelines that showed how many servings of each food group we needed per day. Around 2011 the USDA announced a change in the pyramid to a plate. MyPlate shows visually how much of each food group should be included each meal. The plate is divided into four sections: grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein. The key goals to focus on through MyPlate are: “Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Focus on whole fruits. Vary your veggies. Make half your grains whole grains. Move to low-fat and fat-free dairy. Vary your protein routine. Eat and drink the right amount for you (USDA, 2016).”

The website for MyPlate is www.choosemyplate.gov. Aside from nutritional information, the website also provides resources on physical activity and dining out. MyPlate Super Tracker is an option to enter the foods consumed and amounts to track your normal caloric intake throughout the day. This can help when planning meals and trying to make healthier choices. For national nutrition month (March), the USDA introduced a new addition to the website. MyPlate Challenges allows friendly competition to encourage healthier choices and physical activity. While this enhancement only runs through March, it can easier be continued outside of the website. There are also many other helpful aps and websites to check out (MyFitness Pal, FitBit, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics just to name a few).

To wrap up all this information into one sentence would be impossible, however there are some key messages to take away if you are a parent or plan on becoming a parent in the future. Families set the pace for healthy lifestyles and children model behaviors after what they see. Set a good example with healthy food choices and do physical activity as a family, like kickball. More than likely the child will grow into their weight, but it never hurts to eat a well-rounded diet. There is an abundance of resources available through healthcare providers, dietitians, and the internet (just make sure it’s a reliable source!) to help you throughout this journey.


Resources:

Denny, S. (2014, January 6). How to Talk to Kids about Weight and Obesity. Retrieved from http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/weight-loss/overweight-and-obesity/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-weight-and-obesity 

Hoelscher, D. M., Kirk, S., Ritchie, L., & Cunningham-Sabo, L. (2013). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 113(10), 1375-1394. 

Mccormack, L. A., & Meendering, J. (2016). Diet and Physical Activity in Rural vs Urban Children and Adolescents in the United States: A Narrative Review. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(3), 467-480.