Extent of Child Obesity

Growth Charts are used to identifying obesity in your child Parents and healthcare professionals in the U.S. have used growth charts since the late 1970's to follow the progress in physical growth of infants, children and adolescents. In May 2001, the CDC developed new growth charts to include BMI.

Children 6-11

Children 12-19

Causes

1. Physical Activity - Lack of regular exercise.
2. Sedentary behavior - High frequency of television viewing, computer usage, and similar behavior that takes up time that can be used for physical activity.
3. Socioeconomic Status - Low family incomes and non-working parents.
4. Eating Habits - Over-consumption of high-calorie foods. Some eating patterns that have been associated with this behavior are eating when not hungry, eating while watching TV or doing homework. Have a look at our Kids healthy eating and child nutrition info
5. Environment - Some factors are over-exposure to advertising of foods that promote high-calorie foods and lack of recreational facilities.

1. Genetics - Greater risk of obesity has been found in children of obese and overweight parents.

What can parents do to prevent their child becoming obese

Create an Active Environment

• Make time for the entire family to participate in regular physical activities that everyone enjoys. Try walking, bicycling or rollerblading.
• Plan special active family-outings such as a hiking or ski trip.
• Start an active neighborhood program. Join together with other families for group activities like touch-football, basketball, tag or hide-and-seek.
• Assign active chores to every family member such as vacuuming, washing the car or mowing the lawn. Rotate the schedule of chores to avoid boredom from routine.
• Enroll your child in a structured activity that he or she enjoys, such as tennis, gymnastics, martial arts, etc.
• Instill an interest in your child to try a new sport by joining a team at school or in your community.
• Limit the amount of TV watching.

Create a Healthy Eating Environment

• Implement the same healthy diet (rich in fruits, vegetables and grains) for your entire family, not just for select individuals.
• Plan times when you prepare foods together. Children enjoy participating and can learn about healthy cooking and food preparation.
• Eat meals together at the dinner table at regular times.
• Avoid rushing to finish meals. Eating too quickly does not allow enough time to digest and to feel a sense of fullness.
• Avoid other activities during mealtimes such as watching TV.
• Avoid foods that are high in calories, fat or sugar.
• Have snack foods available that are low-calorie and nutritious. Fruit, vegetables and yogurt are some examples.
• Avoid serving portions that are too large.
• Avoid forcing your child to eat if he/she is not hungry. If your child shows atypical signs of not eating, consult a healthcare professional.
• Limit the frequency of fast-food eating to no more than once per week.
• Avoid using food as a reward or the lack of food as punishment.

Diagnosis

• Family history of obesity.
• Family history of obesity-related health risks such as early cardiovascular disease (see gestational diabetes), high cholesterol, high blood pressure levels, type 2 diabetes.
• Family history of cigarette smoking and sedentary behaviors.
• Signs in the child of obesity-related health risks from a pediatrician's evaluation including:
  • Cardiac Risk Factors. Studies of children with obesity show higher than average blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output when compared to children without obesity.
  • Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors. This involves glucose intolerance and insulin levels that are higher than average.
  • Orthopedic Problems. Some symptoms include weight stress in the joints of the lower limbs, tibial torsion and bowed legs, and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (especially in boys).
  • Skin disorders. Some are heat rash, intertrigo, monilial dermatitis and acanthosis nigricans.
  • Psychological / Psychiatric Issues. Poor self-esteem, negative self-image, depression, and withdrawal from peers have been associated with obesity.
• Patterns of sedentary behavior (such as too much television viewing) and low physical activity levels.
• Taller height - children with obesity are often above the 50th percentile in height.
• Smoking initiation. Research studies show that youngsters use smoking as a method of weight control. Parents, pediatricians and schools should work together to discourage smoking as a weight control behavior for three main reasons: a) smoking is not likely to be successful in controlling weight, b) smoking is itself harmful, and c) smoking is associated with a decrease in sound nutrition and physical activity patterns.