How to get a handle on factors influencing childhood obesity | Mark Mahoney

As we continue the school year, the ongoing importance of addressing childhood obesity continues to be a significant public health issue. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention sponsors National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month each year to promote healthy growth and prevent childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity is a complex disease with many contributing factors, including genetics, eating patterns; physical activity levels, and sleep routines. About 1 in 5 American children has obesity.

Obesity in childhood poses immediate and future health risks including:

• Children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, and type 2 diabetes. They also have more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure and high cholesterol than their normal weight peers.

• Children with obesity can be bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers. They are also more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem.

• Children with obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults. (65% of adults in Florida are at an unhealthy weight according to the Healthiest Weight Florida coalition) This can lead to lifelong physical and mental health problems. Adult obesity is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many types of cancers.

Many factors may influence childhood obesity

Impacts on childhood obesity can occur due to numerous factors including eating and physical activity behaviors, genetics, metabolism, family and home environment, and community and social factors. For some children and families, obesity may be influenced by the following:

• Too much time spent being inactive

• Lack of sleep

• Lack of places to go in the community to get physical activity

• Easy access to inexpensive, high calorie foods and sugary beverages

• Lack of access to affordable, healthier foods

Team approach to support healthy growth

Many actors need to be involved in working in a complementary manner to address the issue of promoting the healthy growth of children and preventing obesity. These may include:

• Parents and caregivers

• State and local health departments, businesses and community groups

• Health care providers

• Early care and education centers (including pre-school and day care centers)

• The goal for children who are overweight is to reduce the rate of weight gain while allowing normal growth and development. Children should NOT be placed on a weight reduction diet without the consultation of a health care provider.

• Remember that small changes every day can lead to longer-term success

Additional barriers

Obviously we should be cognizant of additional barriers impacting the ability to address this issue. Our society has a definite need to look at the many inequities that presently exist which include lack of educational opportunities (including education on nutrition and health topics), limited income, lack of access to affordable healthier foods, difficulty in access to health care (i.e., health disparities, particularly with relation to minority population groups).

Finally, the issue of racial inequalities should not be discounted.

Though there is no one solution to addressing obesity, there are many ways parents and caregivers can help children have a healthy weight and set up lifelong healthy habits at home. So, let’s look at focusing on the many-varied approaches we can pursue as we address the important issue of childhood obesity.

Resources/information

The following resource at the CDC provides some things families can do to help prevent childhood obesity are provide at:

Preventing Childhood Obesity: 5 Things Families Can Do | DNPAO | CDC

Some simple steps in the home you can take to curb childhood obesity from the Calorie Control Council are available at caloriecontrol.org

Check out the following resource designed to assist you with maintaining your child at a healthy weight. It provides basic information and action steps: health.gov.

Mark Mahoney has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 35 years. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Getting a handle on factors influencing childhood obesity