| Now that we are in late winter, parents have to | | | | diabetes, are common health effects of adult obesity, |
| become engaged in setting up and maintaining healthy | | | | only in recent years has Type-2 diabetes begun to |
| eating habits for their children, You’ve probably | | | | emerge as a health-related problem among children |
| read about it in newspapers and seen it on T.V. news: | | | | and adolescents. Onset of diabetes in children and |
| the number of obese children and teens has continued | | | | adolescents can result in advanced complications such |
| to sky-rocket over the past two decades. You may | | | | as CVD and kidney failure. |
| wonder: Why are doctors and scientists troubled by | | | | In addition, studies have shown that obese children and |
| this trend? And as parents or other concerned adults, | | | | teens are more likely to become obese as adults. |
| you may also ask: What steps can we take to help | | | | Is Childhood Obesity Considered a Livelong Problem? |
| prevent obesity and overweight levels in our children? | | | | To help your child maintain a healthy weight, balance |
| This article provides answers to some of the | | | | the calories your child consumes from foods and |
| questions you may have and provides you with | | | | beverages with the calories your child uses through |
| resources to help you keep your family healthy and | | | | physical activity and normal growth. |
| eating a balanced diet. | | | | Remember that the goal for overweight and obese |
| - Why is childhood obesity considered a health | | | | children and teens is to reduce the rate of weight gain |
| problem? | | | | while allowing normal growth and development. |
| - What can I do as a parent or guardian to help | | | | Children and teens should NOT be placed on a weight |
| prevent childhood overweight? | | | | reduction diet without the consultation of a health care |
| - Want to learn more? | | | | provider. |
| Is Childhood Obesity Considered a Livelong Problem? | | | | Balancing Calories: Help Kids Develop Healthy Eating |
| Doctors and scientists are concerned about the rise of | | | | Habits |
| obesity in children and youth because obesity may | | | | One part of balancing calories is to eat foods that |
| lead to the following health problems: | | | | provide adequate nutrition and an appropriate number |
| - Heart disease, caused by: | | | | of calories. You can help children learn to be aware of |
| - high cholesterol and/or | | | | what they eat by developing healthy eating habits, |
| - high blood pressure | | | | looking for ways to make favorite dishes healthier, and |
| - Type 2 diabetes | | | | reducing calorie-rich temptations. |
| - Asthma | | | | Encourage healthy eating habits. |
| - Sleep apnea | | | | |
| - Social discrimination | | | | Northwestern University football tailgate party, |
| Childhood obesity is associated with various | | | | Kenosha,WI |
| health-related consequences. Obese children and | | | | There’s no great secret to healthy eating. Recently |
| adolescents may experience immediate health | | | | at a Big-Ten football sponsored scrimmage and |
| consequences and may be at risk for weight-related | | | | tailgate outing with two children, my girl-friend and I had |
| health problems in adulthood. | | | | major problems in feeding the children a reasonability |
| Psychosocial Risks | | | | healthy meal. To help your children and family develop |
| Some consequences of childhood and adolescent | | | | healthy eating habits consider the following guidelines: |
| overweight are psychosocial. Obese children and | | | | - Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain |
| adolescents are targets of early and systematic social | | | | products. |
| discrimination. The psychological stress of social | | | | - Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products. |
| stigmatization can cause low self-esteem which, in turn, | | | | - Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for |
| can hinder academic and social functioning, and persist | | | | protein. |
| into adulthood. | | | | - Serve reasonably-sized portions. (No Super Sizing} |
| Cardiovascular Disease Risks | | | | - Encourage your family to drink lots of water. |
| Obese children and teens have been found to have | | | | - Limit sugar-sweetened beverages. soft drinks and |
| risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including | | | | juices |
| high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and | | | | - Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat. |
| abnormal glucose tolerance. In a population-based | | | | Remember that small changes every day can lead to |
| sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, almost 60% of | | | | a recipe for success! |
| overweight children had at least one CVD risk factor | | | | For more information about nutrition, visit Finding Your |
| while 25 percent of overweight children had two or | | | | Way to a Healthier You: Based on the Dietary |
| more CVD risk factors. | | | | Guidelines for Americans. |
| Major Health Risks for Children | | | | Look for ways to make favorite dishes healthier. |
| Less common health conditions associated with | | | | The recipes that you may prepare regularly, and that |
| increased weight include asthma, hepatic steatosis, | | | | your family enjoys, with just a few changes can be |
| sleep apnea and Type-2 diabetes. | | | | healthier and just as satisfying. For new ideas about |
| - Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the | | | | how to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily |
| airways become blocked or narrowed causing | | | | diet check out the recipe database from the |
| breathing difficulty. Studies have identified an | | | | FruitsandVeggiesMatter.gov. This database enables |
| association between childhood overweight and | | | | you to find tasty fruit and vegetable recipes that fit |
| asthma. | | | | your needs. |
| - Hepatic steatosis is the fatty degeneration of the | | | | Remove calorie-rich temptations! |
| liver caused by a high concentration of liver enzymes. | | | | Although everything can be enjoyed in moderation, |
| Weight reduction causes liver enzymes to normalize. | | | | reducing the calorie-rich temptations of high-fat and |
| - Sleep apnea is a less common complication of | | | | high-sugar, or salty snacks can also help your children |
| overweight for children and adolescents. Sleep apnea | | | | develop healthy eating habits. Instead only allow your |
| is a sleep-associated breathing disorder defined as the | | | | children to eat them sometimes, so that they truly will |
| cessation of breathing during sleep that lasts for at | | | | be treats! Here are examples of easy-to-prepare, |
| least 10 seconds. Sleep apnea is characterized by loud | | | | low-fat and low-sugar treats that are 100 calories or |
| snoring and labored breathing. During sleep apnea, | | | | less: |
| oxygen levels in the blood can fall dramatically. One | | | | - A medium-size apple |
| study estimated that sleep apnea occurs in about 7% | | | | - A medium-size banana |
| of overweight children. | | | | - 1 cup blueberries |
| - Type-2 diabetes is increasingly being reported among | | | | - 1 cup grapes |
| children and adolescents who are overweight. While | | | | - 1 cup carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers with 2 tbsp. |
| diabetes and glucose intolerance, a precursor of | | | | |