Posts Tagged ‘overweight’
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
A blunt new ad campaign in Georgia, “Stop Sugarcoating,” featuring images of miserable-looking overweight children is stirring up a national controversy. While the ad campaign aims to increase awareness of childhood obesity, many parents are concerned it will only cause more stigmatization of overweight kids.
While I agree that these ads are quite shocking and understand why they have been met with criticism, I do believe that a hard-hitting campaign may be the wake-up call needed to prevent a catastrophic public health crisis. The point of these ads is to spark discussion about childhood obesity. And if you have been on Twitter recently, you will see that this has been accomplished. While it is uncomfortable to watch these ads, it’s when people are uncomfortable that change occurs.
With nearly 1 million, or 40 percent, of kids in Georgia considered overweight or obese, it is imperative that parents understand that this is a grave issue that cannot be ignored. The truth is that, as the campaign points out, a whopping 50 percent of people surveyed didn’t recognize childhood obesity as a problem. What’s more, 75 percent of parents with obese kids don’t acknowledge their children as having weight issues. We all seem to think this is somebody else’s problem. Bringing these issues to the forefront sparks discussion and forces parents to confront the problem. These kids can’t be helped if their parents don’t acknowledge that help is needed.
As a pediatrician and child obesity expert who speaks with overweight and obese kids every day, I have seen firsthand the bullying and stigmatization these kids live with. Given my clinical experience, I don’t believe these ads will increase the bullying of these kids; they are already getting bullied day in and day out. As these ads are already out there, we should use them as an opportunity to address the issue at hand; our kids are overweight and we need to help them get healthy.
Here are some dos and don’ts for parents when it comes to talking to kids about weight:
1. It’s All About Health: While the ads may use the word “fat”, your conversation should not. Instead of focusing on “fat” or “thin”, talk about health and good nutrition. This way, even a thin parent can have this conversation. It is very possible that your child will initially get upset and accuse you of thinking he is fat. If this happens, simply steer the conversation back to your child’s health. ““I am not worried about your looks. It is your health that concerns me. Your body would be healthier if you weighed a little less. Let’s work together to learn to eat well.”
2. We Can Do It!: Instead of saying “You need to eat healthier”, try, “We need to eat healthier.” I have chosen to say ‘we’ need to eat healthier’ because this sounds less accusatory and alerts your child that you are both in it together.
3. Let’s Take Action: Be sure that you end the conversation with concrete suggestions of things you can do to be healthier. For example, suggest a trip to the grocery store to pick up some healthy foods, sign up for a local exercise class or go for a family jog each night. The idea is to end the conversation with a goal your child can accomplish so the prospect of “losing weight and getting healthy” doesn’t seem so daunting..
Remember that your long-term goal as a parent is to raise a person who is comfortable with herself and knows that she is loved, regardless of weight or size. Your child should also know, however, that part of loving yourself is taking care of your body and keeping it healthy. Children who feel loved learn to love themselves and are more likely to make healthy choices.
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Tags: campaign, children, Georgia, obesity, overweight, stigmatization
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Monday, May 9th, 2011
Homework, late workdays, long commutes, after-school activities — it’s no wonder few families eat dinner together. Yet studies show that the family dinner hour is an important part of healthy living. In fact, a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics found that children and adolescents who share meals with their families at least three times per week are less likely to be overweight, be at risk for eating disorders, or eat unhealthy foods, such as soda, fast food, fried food and sweets or candy.
The researchers examined 17 previous studies, which involved 182,836 children aged 2 to 17 and found that three or more family meals per week were associated with a 12% reduction in the odds for being overweight, a 20% drop in the odds of eating unhealthy foods regularly and a 35% reduction in disordered eating- including purging, the use of diet pills, skipping meals or the use of smoking cigarettes as a way to control weight. In addition, the kids were 24% more likely to eat healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, breakfast and also more likely to take a multivitamin.
Although the studies yielded mixed results and weren’t easy to compare, overall they show regular family meals are tied to better nutrition. Basically, by simply having family dinners and engaging themselves in their kids’ lives, parents can significantly benefit their child’s health and well-being. How awesome is that?! Also, as Amber Hammons, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and the lead study author, points out, it’s possible that parents may influence and monitor their kids more during shared meals.
Remember, the goal is to get everyone to the dinner table and to spend quality time together – not to force Mom into Carol Brady mode. Here are tips on pulling it off:
- Keep it simple. Family meals don’t have to be elaborate. Work salads and vegetables into meals. Focus on familiar favorites, like chili or frittatas.
- Get the family involved. Let kids help prepare meals and set the table.
- Use the crock-pot. Put everything together before leaving for work in the morning. You’ll come home to the delicious smell of a cooked meal.
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Tags: children, dinner, eat, family, healthy, meals, overweight
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Monday, April 25th, 2011
It’s a long-honored tradition: several times a year, parents receive report cards showing how their children have done academically. However, with continuing increases in childhood obesity rates, school districts and states across the country have been increasingly considering a new type of parental notification: the BMI report card.
BMI, short for body mass index, is a way of measuring weight relative to height. BMI is calculated by taking a person’s weight (in kilograms) and dividing it by height (in meters) squared. Among adults, a BMI of 18 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and above 30 obese. Because children grow and develop, absolute cut points can’t be used in pediatrics. Instead, a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile is considered overweight, and above the 95th percentile obese.
Of course, individuals differ in relative amounts of fat and lean tissue. A teenager engaging in regular, intense physical activities may have a high BMI due to extra muscle. However, for the vast majority, BMI is a good measure of weight status and risk for obesity-related conditions.
The health effects of childhood obesity and high BMI are well-known: excess pounds can lead to heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, asthma and sleep apnea, among other serious health problems in adulthood.
Therefore, these school- sponsored messages may give parents a needed reality check. As previously discussed here at Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, parents of overweight children often believe their children are at a healthy weight, even though almost one third of kids are actually overweight or obese.
Although, some critics question the government’s place in getting involved in something as personal as weight, efforts to deal with the problem may be more effective in childhood than any other time in life. For these reasons, BMI reports cards make sense.
The next time you get a BMI report card, first give serious consideration to whether your family needs to improve their eating habits and increase their physical activity level. If your child’s BMI percentile is already high, or climbing fast, discuss the issue with your pediatrician or make an appointment with a childhood obesity program, like Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right.
Parents are encouraged to share this information with their child’s doctor, who can help interpret the results and make recommendations.
To start, here are some tips to help kids maintain a healthy weight:
- Encourage kids to be active every day. Experts recommend that kids get 60 minutes or more of physical activity on most — preferably all — days of the week.
- Offer fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks
- Serve appropriate portion sizes.
- Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and offer low-fat milk or water instead.
- Limit time spent in front of a screen, including TV and computers, to less than 2 hours a day.
- Set a good example by eating healthy, being physically active, and limiting the time you spend in front of a screen.
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Tags: grade, obesity, overweight, report card, school
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Monday, April 11th, 2011
Are You Underestimating Your Child’s Weight?
As America’s population becomes more and more overweight, people may develop a distorted perception of what is deemed a healthy weight. This is precisely what USA Today reported on when revealing the results from a recent study performed at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.
Researchers asked 111 women and 111 children questions about their age, income and body size, and also measured their height and weight. They were asked to identify their body shapes based on silhouettes representing underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Researchers found that many overweight mothers and their offspring were not as svelte as they thought:
- 82 percent of obese mothers and 43 percent of overweight mothers underestimated their weight.
- 86 percent of overweight or obese children underestimated their weight, while only 15 percent of normal-sized kids did.
- 48 percent of mothers of obese or overweight children thought their children’s weight was normal.
- 13 percent of normal-weight mothers underestimated their weight.
These findings imply that those who are most affected by obesity are either unaware or underestimate their true weight. The study data show the need for health-care providers to educate patients about the dangers of excess body weight. Strategies to overcome the obesity epidemic will need to address body image misperception.
Parents may not have “weight management” on their minds as they look at their active, yet overweight kids. This is why at Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, parents are educated on identifying overweight children. This is extremely important as overweight children are at risk of developing serious health problems once reserved for adults, like Type II diabetes and heart disease. Early intervention is key, before a child’s nutritional and exercise habits are set and when it’s easier for them to lose weight.
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Tags: kids, moms, obese, overweight, underestimate
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Thursday, September 30th, 2010
School Parties
Now that school is back in session, there will be plenty of birthdays and holidays where high calorie, junky foods will be served in the classroom. We need to rethink these caloric traditions as we are in the midst of an extremely dangerous child obesity epidemic. I agree with the idea that all kids should be able to eat a cupcake every once in a while but I think parents and teachers underestimate how frequently these parties occur.
Most classes contain about 28 children which equals 28 birthday celebrations each year. Then we have all the holidays that are celebrated in the classroom: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Chanukah, Easter/Passover, etc. With 40 weeks in a school year, we are celebrating something in the classroom each week. Even a weekly cupcake wouldn’t be so bad if that was the only celebratory treat eaten each week. But chances are if it is being celebrated in the classroom, it is also celebrated outside of the classroom. So for each school birthday, the child also goes to an out-of-school birthday. For each school holiday celebration, the child also goes to an out-of school holiday celebration. It just never ends.
Schools should be safe havens where parents can send kids without worrying about them being tempted with unhealthy foods. Sure, the child can always say “no thanks”, but how many kids actually have that willpower? Why should they be put in that position in the first place?
So how can we keep the fun and remove the calories from these parties? We can offer healthier food options or take the emphasis off of the food altogether. Here are some fun ideas that don’t involve food…
-Have a dance party. Let the birthday child pick the music and the type of dance. .
-Screen a special movie with the theme from the holiday for the kids to enjoy.
-Do a special class art project or craft that each child can bring home at the end of the day.
-Kids can make and decorate birthday cards for the birthday child; Parents can be encouraged to bring in small “goody bags” containing stickers, erasers, fun pencils and small toys) instead of cupcakes.
Some healthy ideas if your child wants to bring in a food item are:
-Angel food cake with fresh fruit
-Whole grain pretzels
-Low fat popcorn Mmake at home and put in individual “fun bags” for each student.)
-Animal crackers
-Dried fruit
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Tags: celebration, healthy, overweight, parties, school
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
As most of you know, New York City recently passed a new “calorie labeling law” which requires restaurant chains with more than a certain number of restaurants across the country to include calorie information on menus.
Houston’s restaurants refuses to comply!
WHY? It must be that the food at Houston’s restaurants is so high in calories that the company believes publishing the information will lead to fewer sales. If that’s the case, then I certainly don’t want to eat there!
What do the Houston’s Restaurant people say? “We feel rather strongly that the [legislation] does not apply to us,” says Glenn Viers, a vice president of Hillstone Restaurant Group of Los Angeles, which owns Houston’s.
Um, what? How could the legislation not apply? Any restaurant with more than 15 locations must post their calorie information. There are clearly more than 15 Houston’s restaurants in the country. In fact, I probably have eaten at most of them!
The city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene agrees that Houston’s must follow this important law. They have already fined the two NYC Houston’s restaurants for noncompliance. Unfortunately, the fine did nothing. I guess Houston’s makes such a large profit that they can afford to pay the fines! Houston’s is set to speak before a judge on September 1.
Houston’s is one of the few restaurant chains that refuses to cooperate. “For the most part, there is widespread compliance,” says Elliott Marcus, an associate commissioner of the city Department of Health. Since the law went into effect, only 336 chains were fined (out of a possible 2,691). Most of the fines involved technical issues (the calorie listings were printed too small or weren’t close enough to the actual food items on the menu). Most of these were also issued in the few months after the law went into effect, before the chains fully understood the law.
Houston’s is deliberately going out of its way to try to circumvent the law! The law applies to “restaurants with 15 or more outlets operating under the same name with standardized menus.”
In a ridiculous move, the company changed the name that appears on the NYC Houston’s menus to “Hillstone”., the name of the restaurant’s parent company. Yet the sign outside still says “Houston’s”. Is that supposed to trick us into thinking it’s not Houston’s? Doesn’t having a “parent company” imply being part of a chain? Are they trying to pretend the restaurants are unrelated? Also, they “slightly” changed some of the offerings at the two NYC restaurants. All the other Houston’s throughout the country have identical menus.
According to CrainsNewYork.com, “Some differences are straightforward. The Park Avenue South location offers sushi rolls, while the Citicorp Center eatery does not. Other variations are simply in the description. Both restaurants offer a $14 grilled artichoke appetizer, but one lists the dish as California Artichokes and the other describes it as Jumbo Artichokes.”
The question remains, why is Houston’s fighting so hard to circumvent this law? Why are they willing to spend all this money to pay fines and pay attorney’s fees to go to court? What are they trying to hide? In my opinion, it is a terrible PR move. It makes me think that the food at Houston’s is so fattening that they are embarrassed about it. Why else would they put in such a big effort to avoid disclosing the calorie count?
Well, I don’t know if Houston’s will succeed in avoiding this law. But they did succeed in making me never want to eat in another Houston’s restaurant ever again.
* Information obtained from CrainsNewYork.com
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Tags: calorie labeling law, calorie law, calories, fattening, Houston's, obesity, overweight, restaurant
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Monday, May 11th, 2009
Nothing makes a child feel more grown up than going out to eat. Yet children, like adults, eat significantly more calories at restaurant meals than they do when eating at home. In fact, the children’s menu is often the least healthy section of a menu! Think about the typical children’s fare. Chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, pizza, hamburgers and hotdogs. And don’t forget the side dish that accompanies them all: french fries. To make it worse, most kids’ meals come with free dessert.
But eating out does not have to be a nutritional disaster. Follow these ten guidelines and your child can enjoy a restaurant meal without sacrificing good nutrition.
1. DO YOUR RESEARCH
Many fast food and restaurant chains post nutritional information on their websites. If you frequent a favorite chain and often choose certain menu items, be sure you look up the nutritional data online. You may be amazed by the calories, saturated fat and sodium in your favorite dish.
Going to a restaurant that doesn’t post their nutrition information online? You can still learn a lot from a simple web search. Go to www.calorie-count.com or www.calorieking.com and type in the name of the dish you usually order. These websites have average nutritional information for thousands of foods. Chances are, you will find what you are looking for.
2. READ THE MENU CAREFULLY
Make sure you know what you are ordering. Pay attention to the descriptions on the menu. Dishes labeled deep-fried, pan-fried, basted, batter-dipped, breaded, creamy, crispy are usually high in calories.
3. DON’T BE AFRAID TO SPECIAL ORDER
Many menu items would be healthy if they were prepared differently. Small substitutions often lead to major calorie savings. Be sure to tell your waiter that you are trying to eat healthy. Most restaurants are happy to prepare your food the way you would like it.
Ask for your vegetables and main dishes to be served with the sauce on the side. If your food is fried or cooked in oil or butter, ask to have it broiled or steamed. Some restaurants even have non-fat cooking spray in the kitchen! When I go to a restaurant, I always ask for “no butter, no oil, no mayo”. These ingredients are often stuck into dishes where you least expect them.
4. SKIP THE KID’S MENU
The kid’s menu is usually the least healthy section of the menu. I like to avoid it altogether. Many restaurants will allow you to choose ‘half-orders’ of dishes on the adult menu. If the restaurant doesn’t do half-orders, consider splitting a dish with your child. Which brings us to our next tip…
5. WATCH YOUR PORTIONS SIZES!
Watch portion size; share or bring leftovers home. At a typical restaurant, a single serving provides enough for at least two meals. Even children’s menu portions are overblown! To overcome this obstacle, take half of your meal home or divide the portion with a dining partner.
It is best to decide how much your child should eat as soon as the dish is served. How many times have you told yourself you would only eat half your dish and then sat at the table picking at the plate until it was finished? Kids do the same thing. When your child’s meal is served and is overflowing, ask the waiter for an extra plate. Place an appropriate portion on your child’s plate and hand the rest to the waiter to wrap up.
6. AVOID BUFFETS
Avoid buffets, even seemingly healthy ones like salad bars. You’ll likely overeat to get your money’s worth. If you do choose buffet dining, opt for fresh fruits, salads with low-fat or fat-free dressings, broiled entrees and steamed vegetables. Resist the temptation to go for seconds or wait at least 20 minutes after eating to make sure you’re still hungry before going back up to the buffet.
7. CHOOSE CALORIE-FREE BEVERAGES
Remember that soda and juice are both huge sources of hidden calories. Try switching to water with lemon or unsweetened iced tea.
8. EAT MINDFULLY
Encourage your kids to eat mindfully. Mindful eating means paying attention to what you eat and savoring each bite. Being mindful also means noticing when you are almost full and laying down your fork. Mindful eating relaxes you so you digest better and makes you feel more satisfied. Teach your children to really taste their food and pay attention to what they are eating.
9. SLOW DOWN!
If your children are shoveling their food into their mouths, they won’t be able to tell that they are full. It takes twenty minutes for your body to realize it is satisfied. Have them put their forks down between bites or take a sip of water between mouthfuls. If your kids finish their meals in less time and still feel hungry, ask them to wait. Once the full twenty minutes has passed, they will probably no longer feel hungry.
10. REMEMBER THE BIG PICTURE
Think of eating out in the context of your whole diet. If it is a special occasion or you know you want to order your favorite meal at a nice restaurant, cut back on your other meals that day. Moderation is always key, but planning ahead can help you relax and enjoy your dining out experience without sacrificing good nutrition or diet control.
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Tags: child, children, healthy dining out, healthy eating, healthy restaurant, kids, nutrition, obesity, overweight, restaurant, weight gain
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Thursday, May 7th, 2009
A new study suggests that there may be a link between child obesity and allergies. The findings, published in the May issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, indicate that controlling your child’s weight may prevent her risk of developing allergies.
The researchers analyzed data on 4,000 children and young adults ages 2 to19 from a new national dataset designed to obtain information about allergies and asthma. Obese children and teens in the study were significantly more likely to have an allergy to something, especially a food allergy. Obese children were 26 percent more likely to have allergies than normal-weight children. The increased risk of food allergies was even higher. The rate of food allergies was 59 percent higher in obese children.
While the study found a link between obesity and allergies, it did not necessary prove that obesity CAUSES allergies. More research is needed to make that determination.
“Given that the prevalence of both obesity and allergic disease has increased among children over the last several decades, it is important to understand and, if possible, prevent these epidemics,” said Cynthia M. Visness, Ph.D., lead author on the paper and a scientist at Rho Federal Systems Division, Inc. in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Hopefully this new study will give parents of obese children an additional reason to start their kids on a weight loss program.
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Tags: allergies, child, children, diet, nutrition, obesity, overweight, parenting, parents, weight loss, wellness
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Monday, April 27th, 2009
What is the best way to ensure that your child sticks with an exercise regimen? Make it fun! It is best to disguise exercise in the form of playing. And there is a calorie-burning superstar just sitting in your garage, waiting to be used! You probably bought it for about $4.95- much less than any other type of exercise equipment. It is time to look at the jump rope in a whole new light.
Read on for a great jump rope exercise routine for your child.
 _
How many calories will we burn?
Jumping rope is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise around. Jumping rope burns about 10 calories per minute- that’s 300 calories in a half hour and 450 calories in a 45 minute sweat session. Few exercises allow children to burn quite so many calories.
But jumping rope doesn’t only burn calories; it is also an effective way to burn fat, increase stamina, improve coordination and firm muscles.
Where can we jump rope?
Jump ropes are both affordable and transportable. Prices range from $5 to $25. And since jump ropes easily fit in your child’s backpack, exercise can happen at any time, on the spur of the moment. Kids can jump rope outdoors or inside. All you need is a high enough ceiling and enough space to turn the rope without knocking anything over.
What type of rope should I buy?
There are a few different types of jump ropes. Your best bet is a rope made of plastic. Cloth ropes are pretty flimsy and leather ropes take a long time to break in. Try to find a rope with soft foam handles and a swivel-like turning action for best comfort. Adolescents can try a weighted rope once they have mastered the regular jump rope.
Jump ropes are not one-size-fits-all. When picking a rope, lie the rope along the ground. Have your child put one foot on the center of the rope and pull the rope straight up along the side of the body. Ideally, the handles should reach up to your child’s armpit.
What moves do we need to know?
The routine will incorporate a few different moves.
Forward Hop-Overs: Place the rope on the ground in a straight line. Have your child face the rope and jump back and forth over the rope.
Side Hop-Overs: Place the rope on the ground in a straight line. Have your child stand with the rope to his/her right side. Your child should jump side-to-side over the rope.
The Workout
Each step should be done for two minutes. The length of the routine depends on how long you want to exercise. The ideal length of the workout is between 30 and 45 minutes.
Warm Up:
March in place for 2 minutes and then jog in place for two minutes.
1. Jumping Jacks
2. Jump Rope
3. Forward Hopovers
4. Jump Rope
5. Side Hopovers
6. Jump Rope
Repeat steps 1-6 as desired.
Cool down:
Cool down by jogging in place for 2 minutes and then marching in place for 2 minutes.
Tips to increase the “fun” in the workout:
1. Make it into a “Simon Says” game.
2. Invite friends to join.
3. Exercise with your child.
4. Let your child pick which move comes next.
5. Make up your own moves!
Remember: Exercise is fun!
Make sure your child drinks plenty of water before, during and after the workout. And always consult a doctor before starting your child on an exercise regimen.
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Tags: activity, child, children, exercise, family, fitness, obese, overweight, parenting, weight loss
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
We are hard-wired to eat high-fat, high-sugar foods. Studies show that these unhealthy treats activate our brains’ pleasure zones, prompting us to continue to seek them out. Could fatty, sugary foods be as addictive as drugs and alcohol?
Brain studies prove that it is harder for some people to resist these unhealthy treats. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain associated with pleasure and reward, seems to be the main culprit. If the brain dopamine system is not functioning properly, people could be more at risk for overeating. Subtle variations in the function of these paths may explain why some people are better able to resist unhealthy food.
How could dopamine cause food addiction? When you eat a food that contains fat and sugar, your brain’s dopamine path is activated, causing you to feel pleasure. You begin to associate these foods with pleasure, prompting you to crave them, whether consciously or subconsciously. You may not even realize that is why you are grabbing a certain snack!
This explains why we automatically reach for ‘comfort food’ when we are upset. Our bodies innately know that it will make us feel better. Break up with your boyfriend? Eat a doughnut. Lose your job? Go for a hot fudge sundae. Science can now explain why we tend to use food as an emotional crutch.
Some compulsive eaters experience such a strong urge to eat that it begins to overshadow their desire to do anything else; it simply gets harder and harder to stay in control. In many senses, this is what drug and alcohol addicts experience. They know that they should stop but are unable to. And like a drug or alcohol addict, a compulsive eater puts his life at risk!
While it is unlikely that differing dopamine sensitivity is the entire cause of the obesity epidemic, it does give us all something to think about. Are we eating because we are hungry or because it makes us feel good? If we are eating because it makes us feel good, perhaps we can turn to other activities that also make us feel good, like exercise or playing with our children. Simply identifying the reasons we eat certain foods can help us to make smarter choices. In a sense, we need to retrain our brains; we need to disrupt the connection between eating fatty, sugary foods and pleasure and reestablish the connection between healthier activities and pleasure. So go for a bicycle ride- it will make you feel better!
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Tags: child diet, Child Obesity, child weight loss, diet, discrimination, dopamine, food addict, food addiction, obese, obese child, obese children, obese kids, obese teen, obesity, overweight, overweight child, overweight children, overweight kids, overweight teen, psychological effects, teen diet, weight gain, weight loss
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