Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity in Iowain Iowa

Presented by:

Nadine Fisher, MS,RD,LDNadine Fisher, MS,RD,LD

July 30, 2004July 30, 2004

Fight Childhood Obesity Today!

Because overweight children often become obese

adults

Current Iowa Trends

RResults from the esults from the 1999-20001999-2000 National Health and Nutrition National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an using measured heights and weights, indicate that an

estimatedestimated 15 percent15 percent of children and of children and adolescents ages 6-19 years are adolescents ages 6-19 years are overweight. overweight.

The incidence of obesity has been gradually increasing over the past three decades

Overweight Prevalence f or Children 6 to 11 Years of Age

0

24

6

810

12

1971-74 1976-80 1988-94Perc

ent

Ove

rwei

ght

Girls

Boys

Iowa Childhood Iowa Childhood Obesity TrendsObesity Trends

Current trends point to the need for more aggressive Current trends point to the need for more aggressive strategies to prevent and reduce obesity among strategies to prevent and reduce obesity among young people.young people.

Recent studies report that an estimated 15 percent Recent studies report that an estimated 15 percent of children 6–19 years are overweight (Ogden, 2002).of children 6–19 years are overweight (Ogden, 2002).

To counter these trends, the Centers for Disease To counter these trends, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun to develop Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun to develop a comprehensive national strategy to prevent a comprehensive national strategy to prevent obesity among the youth of America.obesity among the youth of America.

Iowa Childhood Obesity Facts

Non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American adolescents ages 12-19 Non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American adolescents ages 12-19 were more likely to be overweight (were more likely to be overweight (24 percent24 percent) than non-Hispanic ) than non-Hispanic white adolescents (white adolescents (13 percent13 percent).).

Mexican-American children ages 6-11 were more likely to be Mexican-American children ages 6-11 were more likely to be overweight (overweight (24 percent24 percent) than non-Hispanic black children ) than non-Hispanic black children ((20 percent20 percent) and non-Hispanic white children () and non-Hispanic white children (12 percent12 percent).).

Preschool-aged non-Hispanic black children were less likely Preschool-aged non-Hispanic black children were less likely ((8 percent8 percent) than younger Mexican-American children ) than younger Mexican-American children ((11 percent11 percent) and non-Hispanic white children () and non-Hispanic white children (10 percent10 percent) to be ) to be overweight.overweight.

In addition, the data show that another In addition, the data show that another 15 percent of children15 percent of children and and teens ages 6 to 19 are considered at risk of becoming overweightteens ages 6 to 19 are considered at risk of becoming overweight ((a BMI-for-age from the 85th to the 95th percentilea BMI-for-age from the 85th to the 95th percentile).).

The experts are saying….The experts are saying….

The greatest success comes when greatest success comes when parents work with the children to changeparents work with the children to change lifestyle habits. Parents need to get the Parents need to get the junk food out of the house and put proper junk food out of the house and put proper portions of food on everyone's plate, no portions of food on everyone's plate, no family style platters. And be sure to get outfamily style platters. And be sure to get out and exercise with your children. Dr. Robert Berkowitz, University of Pennsylvania Dr. Robert Berkowitz, University of Pennsylvania

Parents Should Be Approached because of your concern for their child’s

health!

What Disease Are Obese Children at Risk For?What Disease Are Obese Children at Risk For? Obese children are at risk for a number of conditions, Obese children are at risk for a number of conditions, including:including:

High cholesterol High cholesterol High blood pressure High blood pressure Early heart disease Early heart disease Diabetes Diabetes Bone problems Bone problems Skin conditions such as heat rash, fungal infections and Skin conditions such as heat rash, fungal infections and

acne acne

What Teachers Can Do!

Obesity Obesity is a problem that is often shared by is a problem that is often shared by

both parents and their children. Obesity treatment is both parents and their children. Obesity treatment is usually targeted at either the parents or the childrenusually targeted at either the parents or the children.

What Teachers Can Do!

How Do I Know if My Child Is Overweight?

TThehe best person to determine whether or best person to determine whether or not your child is overweight is your child's not your child is overweight is your child's doctor.doctor.

InIn determining whether or not your child is overweight, the doctor will determining whether or not your child is overweight, the doctor will measure your child's weight and height. The doctor will also consider measure your child's weight and height. The doctor will also consider your child's age and growth patterns. Assessing obesity in children your child's age and growth patterns. Assessing obesity in children can be difficult because children can grow in unpredictable spurts. For can be difficult because children can grow in unpredictable spurts. For example, it is not unusual for boys to appear overweight, but they may example, it is not unusual for boys to appear overweight, but they may grow taller and thus " grow into the weight" a few yearsgrow taller and thus " grow into the weight" a few years later. later.

KNOW THE FACTSKNOW THE FACTS::Children become overweight for a variety of Children become overweight for a variety of

reasonsreasons. The most common causes are:. The most common causes are:

Genetic Factors,Genetic Factors, Lack of Physical ActivityLack of Physical Activity Unhealthy Eating PatternsUnhealthy Eating Patterns A Combination of These FactorsA Combination of These Factors

Only in rare cases is being overweight caused by a medical Only in rare cases is being overweight caused by a medical condition such as a hormonal problem. A physical exam and condition such as a hormonal problem. A physical exam and some blood tests can rule out the possibility of a medical some blood tests can rule out the possibility of a medical condition. condition.

What Teachers Can Do!

What Teachers Can What Teachers Can Do!Do!

KNOW THE FACTSKNOW THE FACTS::

AAlthough weight problems run in lthough weight problems run in families, not all children with a family families, not all children with a family history of obesity will be overweight. history of obesity will be overweight. Children whose parents or brothers or Children whose parents or brothers or sisters are overweight may be at an sisters are overweight may be at an increased risk of becoming overweight increased risk of becoming overweight themselves, but this can be link to shared themselves, but this can be link to shared family behaviors such as eating and activity family behaviors such as eating and activity habits. habits.

Childhood Obesity Trends and Related Disease

As the percentage of overweightAs the percentage of overweight and obese children and obese children continues to continues to climb—it has doubled in 6 to 17 year olds climb—it has doubled in 6 to 17 year olds in the last 30 years—soin the last 30 years—so does the incidence of type does the incidence of type 2 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemiadisease, hyperlipidemia, and , and psychosocial disorderspsychosocial disorders among these children. "It's among these children. "It's

not unusual these days for me to not unusual these days for me to see a 200 pound 8 or see a 200 pound 8 or 9 year old," said Dr. Kaufmann9 year old," said Dr. Kaufmann, describing her , describing her young patients in treatment for diseases traditionally seen among young patients in treatment for diseases traditionally seen among adults.adults.

As President elect of the American Diabetes Association, she expressed particular As President elect of the American Diabetes Association, she expressed particular concern about the "epidemic" of type 2 diabetes in overweight and obese children and concern about the "epidemic" of type 2 diabetes in overweight and obese children and youth.youth.

What Teachers Can Do?What Teachers Can Do?

A child's total diet and activitytotal diet and activity level play play

an important role in determining a child's weight. Today, many an important role in determining a child's weight. Today, many children spend a lot of time being inactive. For example, the children spend a lot of time being inactive. For example, the average child spends approximately 24 hours each week average child spends approximately 24 hours each week

watching television.watching television. As computers and video games become increasingly popular, the number of hours of inactivity may only increase.

Talking to Parents…

How Can I Help My Overweight Child?How Can I Help My Overweight Child? If your child is overweight, it is very

important that you allow him or her to know that you will be supportive. Children's feelings about themselves often are based on their parents' feelings about them and if you accept your children at any weight, they will be more likely to feel good about themselves. It is also important to talk to your children about their weight, allowing them to share their concerns with you.

It is not recommended that parents set children apart because of their weight. Instead, parents should focus on gradually changing their family's physical activity and eating habits. By involving the entire family, everyone is taught healthful habits and the overweight child does not feel singled out.

Some Practical Some Practical Suggestions…Suggestions…

Encourage and demonstrate creative ideas that Encourage and demonstrate creative ideas that require the students to move around and be active require the students to move around and be active during and after school.during and after school.

Develop classroom learning activities that Develop classroom learning activities that incorporate health and nutrition. Have students incorporate health and nutrition. Have students explore math through calculating energy explore math through calculating energy expenditures of common exercises and link those to expenditures of common exercises and link those to calories in food.calories in food.

Support student exercise by avoiding disciplinary Support student exercise by avoiding disciplinary actions that restrict student exercise during recess actions that restrict student exercise during recess and after school.and after school.

Activities and Suggestions

Consider extra credit activities that require physical exercise Consider extra credit activities that require physical exercise (have (have students develop activity logs).students develop activity logs).

Engage students by encouraging them to create their own activities Engage students by encouraging them to create their own activities and assignments that promote good health and assignments that promote good health (students can create (students can create walking maps and healthy snack menus).walking maps and healthy snack menus).

Organize a student Organize a student healthy lifestyle committeehealthy lifestyle committee to develop a health and to develop a health and fitness activity plan for the school year.fitness activity plan for the school year.

Develop a Develop a health calendarhealth calendar and have a weekly suggestion for family and have a weekly suggestion for family fitness or physical activity.fitness or physical activity.

Initiate a student Initiate a student exercise contestexercise contest that includes family members or that includes family members or friends.friends.

Who Can Help?

Johnson County Public Health Maternal Johnson County Public Health Maternal and Child Health program and Child Health program can provide referral can provide referral sources, information, written materials etc…Ask to speak to a sources, information, written materials etc…Ask to speak to a Dietitian. 319-356-6042Dietitian. 319-356-6042

Johnson County Extension Johnson County Extension Can provide Can provide written materials and other resources. Ask for Jan Temple written materials and other resources. Ask for Jan Temple 319-319-337-2145 337-2145

Thanks for your Thanks for your help!!help!!

For More Information and Resources on Childhood Obesity, Please visit my website at: www.internetRD.comwww.internetRD.com