The U.S. population is growing, and not necessarily in a good way. America’s waistlines are expanding, thanks in part to an appetite for unhealthy food and not enough taste for exercise. The end result: Obesity has grown into a dramatic problem in America.
But, where adults were once the main focus, obesity in children is making headlines now. How bad is it?
Well, lawmakers are considering a tax on the foods kids especially love to eat – junk food. On the grassroots level, community and civic organizations are strategizing to find long-term solutions at school and at home.
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one fifth of U.S. children are obese or overweight. That’s 17 percent of children in the country. In a 2007 National Survey of Children's Health, the top 10 states reported to have the highest prevalence of childhood obesity included:
- Mississippi (44.4%)
- Arkansas (37.5%)
- Georgia (37.3%)
- Kentucky (37.1%)
- Tennessee (36.5%)
- Alabama (36.1%)
- Louisiana (35.9%)
- West Virginia (35.5%)
- District of Columbia (35.4%)
- Illinois (34.9%)
Unlike adults, who are deemed obese by a
body mass index (BMI) calculation of their weight and height, children are defined as overweight or obese by a chart that takes into account normal differences in body fat between boys and girls and differences in body fat at various ages.
Children need a certain amount of calories and nutrients for growth development. However, when kids lack access to healthy foods and consume too many unhealthy calories, they gain weight. Obesity can lead children and adolescents down a path to other health problems: diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, just to name a few. What’s taking them there? Consider these factors:
- The Yummy and Fattening
If it’s pre-packaged, fizzes with colorful carbonation, comes as part of a value meal and is available in most vending machines, then kids will gobble it up. Only, the vast majority of these is high in calories, sugar, salt and fat, and eaten on a regular basis, will contribute to weight gain.
- No Movement
Playing sports, dancing, running at the playground or getting involved in other activities help kids have fun and maintain or lose their weight. Unfortunately, playing videogames, texting, watching TV and other sedentary habits only contribute to childhood obesity.
- Family Practices
If parents lead, their children will follow, even if it’s down a path of poor eating habits. Often kids learn to love salty, sugary, fatty foods because parents have them in the kitchen. Parents can help fight childhood obesity by controlling access to the unhealthy foods at home and encouraging activities that will allow them to burn energy.
- Where They Come From
Children from low-income backgrounds and who live in low-income neighborhoods are at a greater risk of becoming obese. Parents don’t have the time or resources to focus on healthy eating and exercise, and often depend on the fast food options nearby.
So what can we do about it? We can teach children about good nutrition by keeping junk food out of the kitchen. Encourage outside activities and sports, lead by example by eating healthy and exercising and take advantage of after-school programs. We can also support changes in public policies that can help communities to make these changes by providing resources and guidelines for local programs.