Obesity is an issue on the rise, one that can have far-reaching consequences.“Obesity is a serious health issue, not only for kids but for adults too,” said Dr. Rock Helms, family medicine doctor at Northside Medical Associates in Pell City.
Helms said childhood obesity may be the most serious public health concern of this century.
“It contributes at least in part to two-thirds of the leading causes of death in the U.S., and is a completely preventable problem,” he said.
Helms said obesity is defined by the Body Mass Index, or BMI, which is calculated using weight and height as an indirect measurement of body fat. The BMI definitions are different for adults and children.
He said since the 1970s, obesity prevalence has doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years, doubled for adolescents aged 12-19 years and tripled for children aged 6-11 years. More than nine million children and youth over 6 years old are obese.
“Obesity in children is far reaching,” he said. “It has many consequences and often leads to adult obesity.”
Helms said the emotional and social consequences are not insignificant, as overweight children and adolescents are targets of early and systematic social discrimination, which can lead to poor self-esteem, and cause consequences in adulthood.
“There are many health consequences as well,” he said, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer, gallbladder disease, arthritis, physical disability, sleep disturbances, sleep problems, an increased risk of death and more.
“In 2005, 112,000 deaths were proven to be obesity related,” he said. “And there are great economic consequences as well.”
Helms said as the years go by, the percentage of obesity continues to rise.
“It is not leveling off; it is getting worse and worse,” he said.
Helms said several things can lead to obesity, including genetics and learned behaviors such as poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle.
“We are seeing more and more younger children who are obese,” said Jan O’Brien, registered dietician at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.
O’Brien said although local schools are doing a good job of creating healthier meals for students at school, the children can go home and eat unhealthy foods.
“The children need to carry over the healthy eating habits from school to home,” she said.
O’Brien said more exercise is recommended, both at school and at home.
“Limiting the time in front of the TV or computer can help,” she said.
O’Brien said drinking water instead of other drinks such as fruit juice, which has a high sugar content, can also help.
“Individuals need to be aware of calories that come from drinks,” she said. “It is easy to drink 300 calories of sweet tea compared to eating about 50 calories when you eat an apple.”
O’Brien said portion control is very important.
“A good guideline is not to eat a serving of anything larger than the palm of your hand or a deck of cards,” she said.
O’Brien said individuals can keep a food diary, which helps them become aware of how many calories they eat each day.
“One pound is 3,500 calories,” she said. “If you decrease 500 calories a day, you would lose one pound per week.”
O’Brien said individuals should lose no more than 1-2 pounds of weight per week.
“Don’t cut your calories back too much,” she said. “The kind of weight loss that stays off is lost at about 1-2 pounds per week.”
O’Brien said parents should set a good example for their children.
“There is a fine line between healthy weight and overdoing it,” she said. “Instead of telling your child ‘don’t eat that, you will get fat,’ the parent could provide healthier food alternatives at home such as fresh fruit instead of chips and candy bars.”
O’Brien said she recommends parents take a positive approach, set a good example, and encourage the child to exercise.
“Parents should not obsess, and they should discuss with their doctor or dietician the best way to deal with an overweight or obese child,” she said. “You want the children to be healthy, but you don’t want to create eating disorders” by overemphasizing the problem of overweight.
O’Brien said some helpful family tips include sitting down to eat meals as a family, and not eating while distracted — such as eating while watching television — which can lead to overeating.
“If you are full, don’t clean your plate,” she said. “It is extra calories you don’t need. Also, stop eating before you are full. It takes a while for your brain to get the message that you are full.”
O’Brien said putting less food on the plate, to start with, can help.
“And don’t use food as a reward,” she said. “Find healthier alternatives. “Make gradual changes. Focus on what you can eat that is healthy. Then you can phase out the junk food over a period of time, instead of all at once.”
O’Brien said obesity is a national problem, which can lead to health problems later in life.
“A child with one obese parent has a 50 percent chance of becoming obese, while a child with two obese parents has an 80 percent chance of becoming obese,” she said.
Stacey Rhodes is regional director and occupational therapist for Champion, Partners in Rehab, which has over 30 contracts in Alabama, including providing services for Sylacauga Health and Rehab and Coosa Valley Nursing Home and Transitional Care Unit. She said the number of obese and overweight people that they see and treat has been increasing.
“I think obesity can often compound other issues,” she said. “Things have changed so much, with television, computers, video games and more.”
Rhodes said children are not outside playing as much as they were years ago.
“I think extracurricular activities that involve being active would help,” she said. “If children begin a sedentary lifestyle early, it is hard to break that lifestyle.”
Rhodes said parents should encourage activities that have a component of being active and not just sitting.
“The parents should set a good example,” she said. “If the children see the parents follow an exercise program, it sets a good example, and the children are more likely to follow that example.”
Rhodes said parents should discuss exercise programs with their family doctor first, to help ensure the safety of the parents and the children.
“The sooner you start an exercise program, the better,” she said.
