Childhood Obesity: the next epidemic?
14.4 million. 14.4 million children and adolescents out of the estimated 2.2 billion children in this world are classified as obese. That is nearly 20% of our adolescent population. There are many factors that play into this alarming stastict but where does the responsibly lay? Are parents, society, the children themselves, or outside factors to blame?
Who is to blame?
Race, gender, socioeconomic status, genetics, age: what do these all have in common? These are all factors that contribute to childhood obesity rates. But should they? Are we selling our children short by labeling them a certain way due to factors outside of their control?
So, what do you blame for these staggering numbers? Gaining and losing weight is a simple math equation: Total Calories in < Total Calories burned/out = Weight Loss. If it is this easy, why do we see this growing epidemic?
Parental Responsibility
Young children can not select, buy, and prepare food for themselves. It is the parent’s role to provide healthy options and establish healthy eating habits. It is also the parent’s role to ensure the activity level of thier child is appropriate for the amount of calories consumed.
It starts as early as the womb and extends until as long as you are providing for their nutrition. In addition to food choice, it is the parent’s responsibility to establish healthy eating habits: eliminating sugary snacks, avoiding sugary drinks, limiting constant eating, and more.
Parental responsibility also extends to exercise and actiivty levels. Where children don’t see the risks of constant screen time, they only see the benefits and entertainment, parents need to limit this and encourage other activities. Playing outside with your child or arranging play dates with friends and neighbors is a great way to promote an increased activity level for your child.
Another habit that you can incorporate into your day easily is, family dinners. Sitting down as a family is the trifecta that could make all the difference: it provides the child with a healthy meal, it models to them how much and how fast to eat, and it limits screen time and promotes conversations. A study found that the risk of obesity is decreased by 40% when a child is involved in regular family dinners, have a limited screen time, and plenty of sleep.
Food Industry
Convenience. Price. Accessibility.
These are just some of the words that come to mind when we think of fast food and they are subsequently the main benefits of eating fast food. However, these benefits do come with a major cost. Typically, the food that you would order from a fast food restaurant is high in calories, fat, trans fat, sugar, salt, etc. Many of the alternative options that are “healthier” have hidden calories and sugar and is also much more expensive than other menu items.
For example, a Big Mac from McDonalds is 563 calories and $3.99 whereas the Southwest Salad is 520 calories and $4.79. Do you see the problem here?
Even when families are opted to eat out, they are tricked into thinking they are eating healthy by ordering salad when they are consuming the same amount of calories. Sure, you are getting servings of vegetables with salad but at what cost?
Studies have shown that meals eaten out rather than in home are up to 55% higher in calories. That finding alone should give parents enough incentive and motivation to prepare and serve meals at home, together at the table.
Society’s Role
In today’s world there are so many other distractions for our youth that don’t involve being outside; gaming systems, phones, tablets, TV’s, etc. Without the push from parental figures to limit screen time and go outside, children could spend all of their free time on a couch and behind a screen. There has been a major increase in childhood obesity and screens are a big factor to blame. Before them, there were no other options for entertainment.
The need for instant gratification is another societal factor that plays into the obesity rates. By giving in to each want of your child, immediately, contributes to their lack of self control. Children lack impulse control and therefore, have a tendency to overeat and overindulge.
One way to combat this is to give children the space and time they need to realize and understand the benefits of waiting for the long term benefits. Helping them save up for a special toy or making a treat from scratch are great examples of this.
Have Can We Combat Childhood Obesity?
· Eat family dinners together
· Go outside and play
· Pay attention to their mental health
· Limit screen time
· Make sure they are getting adequate sleep
