They Must Be Led

Childhood obesity is an epidemic that has short and long-term affects.  The dietary and physical activity behaviors of children and adolescents are influenced by many sectors of society, including families, communities, schools, child care settings, medical care providers, faith-based institutions, government agencies, the media, and the food and beverage industries and entertainment industries.

According to the Center for Disease Control and prevention obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.  The numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese.

With parents having busy schedules with work and other commitments it is less likely that a parent is preparing meals for their children like generations before them.  It is easier put something in the microwave or go to a drive thru.  Children’s free and leisure time is consumed with video games and television instead of physical activity.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children and teens exercise at least at the intensity of a fast walk, about 5.6 kilometers per hour (3.5 miles per hour), for 60 minutes every day.

Recent research reported by The Children’s Obesity Fund, which has been reported in the Journal for Pediatrics, indicates that a lack of physical exercise is the big reason for the rise in obese children.

A recent study of 13,000 young people found that, on average, obese teens consumed fewer calories than their slim friends. According to Dr. Michael Omidi and his brother Julian Omidi and their non-profit The Children’s Obesity Fund, this finding underscores the importance of an active lifestyle.

The findings from The Children’s Obesity Fund complement the data from The Physical Activity Council which reported that in 2011, 170 million Americans – nearly 70% of the country -- were not active to healthy standards, i.e. 30 minutes of exercise at least three days a week.

For the past two school years I have worked with a nutritionist at middle schools in Montgomery County, MD in an after school Food and Fitness Program.  Every week after the exercise is completed they learn how to prepare healthy snacks and meals such as green smoothies, mixed green salads, grilled chicken and turkey burgers.  Each week they are requesting seconds and thirds.  Fitness activities have included relay races, kickball games, and introductions to exercises they can do on their own.

It is an example of when healthy options are presented to children there are foods they will eat and physical activities they can enjoy.  Recently I asked them to tell me what they had for lunch and the cost.  The next week they all received a handout with a shopping list and recommendations of what to purchase at school.  The list illustrated how a healthier lunch could cost $3.00/day with the right shopping choices and preparation.

It was refreshing to receive feedback from the students’ that their parents purchased items on the list and are helping them make better choices.

Children are dependent on adults to make decisions for them including what foods they are introduced to and activity levels.  At an early age foods that are high in sugar and fat are used as a treat or reward.  Parents have bad habits and they are passed down to their children.  Advertisers market specific foods for children that are high in fat and sugar.

 Dr. David Katz, Director, Yale University Prevention Research Center, Griffin Hospital recent editorial eloquently stated how adults view the nutrition and activity of their children:

“Most mammals seem to take the basic care and feeding of their offspring very seriously. Most mammals seem to recognize childhood as the time to cultivate the dietary aptitudes and attitudes that will shape a lifetime of sustenance. Our own species, or at least its currently prevailing culture, seems inclined to treat the feeding of our children as something of a joke. We seem inclined to confront the prominence of junk food in the diets of our children with a nudge-nudge, wink-wink, as if it were at worst cute—at best, a legitimate food group in its own right."

Parents can easily have the attitude toward feeding their children in the manner in which Dr. Katz stated because that is how they take care of their own temples.  With children their behavior is taught and caught.  Unintentionally parents condition their children to eating habits and activity levels.

Healthy and unhealthy school lunches.

Researchers have found adolescents are more likely to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if their parents do. Contrarily, teens whose parents eat fast food or drink soda and are not active are more likely to do the same.

First Lady Michelle Obama Let’s Move Campaign is a comprehensive initiative dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity.  It includes the first ever task force on child obesity and her championing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. A Congressional majority passed the legislation, which required meals in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to have fewer calories, more fruits and vegetables, fewer processed items and less sodium. And today the school lunches that 31 million kids eat are more likely to include a whole-wheat vegetarian pizza than sloppy joes.

The program has been scrutinized in some areas for being too rigid.  Districts in states including California, New York and Texas have dropped the program because their students simply weren’t eating the healthier foods and they were losing money on the lunches. 

The NSLP is still going through the trial and error process.  The program is making efforts to improve lunches, but breakfast, snacks, and weekend meal choices are up to parents.  The older children get the harder it will be for them to adopt a healthy lifestyle because the habits they develop now will become more engrained in them.

Environmental factors cannot be ignored.  Many communities are food deserts with limited options of healthy foods, walking trails, parks, and fitness centers. Low-income families are on reduced lunch programs and many children are stuck with the unhealthy choices at their schools.

In 2009 Robert K. Ross, president and chief executive officer of the California Endowment stated, "The research shows us that one of the keys to solving the teen obesity crisis starts with parents, but we must also improve the abysmal food environments in many low-income communities.  While parents are the primary role models for their children and their behavior can positively — or negatively — influence their children's health, it is also essential that local officials representing low-income communities work to expand access to fruits, vegetables and other healthful foods."

The private sector and government must do a better job of creating communities regardless of income that are more conducive for a healthy lifestyle.  The relationship between parents and children is perfectly designed to enable children to watch and learn.  Parents and caretakers must do a better job of setting the example for children and establishing habits while they are young.   Healthier parents will lead to healthier children; they are depending on the adults to step up to the plate for them.

Jamaal Piper is a Health and Wellness Consultant and Certified Personal Trainer
www.piperpersonaltraining.com
piperpersonaltraining@gmail.com