Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is near and dear to my heart as a School Nurse and as a mother of three. The statistics and health risks are alarming! Yet parents still don’t seem to be jumping on the band wagon to help their child. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that is affecting children and adolescents. Most overweight/obese children become obese adults. I feel that when managing childhood obesity, it should start with the parents not just the obese child. They ultimately buy the food, cook, have the same poor eating habits and don’t exercise.
The health risks from obesity definitely effect the body over time and Type II Diabetes is on the rise with our younger children. Some other health risks include: high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, bone and joint problems, stroke and being at HIGH risk for MANY diseases. One of the best strategies to combat excess weight gain is increasing your exercise and monitoring caloric intake. Decreased physical activity and sedentary behavior is some of the biggest reasons why many children are obese and overweight. Kids need 60 minutes of exercise each day.
I love how the game industry has changed how kids play their video games. Nintendo Wii has been a good addition to many families to get their children moving in the right direction. It has definitely been a hit at my house. As a parent, I try to make an effort to do the 60 minutes of exercise with my children. I need it along with my children and it’s some great bonding time that we can spend together.
Below is some great information on childhood obesity from credible websites such as CDC, Mayo clinic, Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, and Disease Management and Health Outcomes.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Healthy Youth
http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/keystrategies/pdf/make-a-difference.pdf
This website has a research-based resource that can help any school implement a long-term approach to help combat obesity. The School Health Index (SHI) is a detailed tool that helps identify the weak areas within a school district. After identifying the weak areas a plan of action is developed with specific steps to implement. A committee of people who are dedicated to children and obesity is needed to further implement this program. This process is a bit lengthy and time consuming but is a good resource.
The Obesity Society
Childhood Overweight
http://www.obesity.org/information/childhood_overweight.asp
This website has a quick overview of the health risks that are associated with childhood obesity. It demonstrates how to calculate a child’s Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a quick tool to determine if your child is overweight. This is a quick formula that compares height, weight, sex, and age. However, it doesn’t consider being muscular, having a larger body frame or how children grow in different rates.
Mayo Clinic Children’s Health
Children’s snacks: 10 tips for healthier snacking
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childrens-health/HQ00419
This is a great website that has some quick and easy healthy snack ideas. It has some tips on good ways to get your children to eat different healthy foods.
EMedicineHealth
Obesity in Children
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/obesity_in_children/article_em.htm
This website has some cool slideshows available to view on promoting healthy eating and implementing exercise into their daily routine. The website is very thorough and has valuable information regarding childhood obesity. It is easy to navigate through the many different tabs on obesity, treatment, care, and resources.
Gance-Cleveland, B., Gilbert, L., Kopanos, T., & Gilbert, K. (2010). Evaluation of Technology to identify and assess overweight children and adolescents. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 15(1), 72-83. Retrieved from CINAHL Plus with Full Text database.
This is a fabulous article on how providers are using computer technology in their practice. This system allows providers to be connected with current Body Mass Index (BMI) guidelines and being able to provide heartsmart information with their patients. HeartSmartKids is a program that not only maps their child’s height, weight, BMI percentile but gives a summary of health and heartsmart risks. It allows the parent to do a comprehensive health history via touch screen computer which that information is generated into the patients chart and their child health risks are identified. This article has some examples of the printouts and what recommendations the doctor has for nutrition or activity. Awesome innovation for helping with childhood obesity!
Hughes, A., & Reilly, J. (2008). Disease management programs targeting obesity in children: setting the scene for wellness in the future. Disease Management & Health Outcomes, 16(4), 255-266. Retrieved from CINAHL Plus with Full Text database.
This is another Journal article that has the repeated information from the sites above; however, addresses more short-term and long-term health outcomes. The long-term effects address the behavioral outcomes of the effects of obesity. The psychosocial aspect to adolescent obesity is detrimental to a child’s self-esteem and needs to be addressed along side the nutrition and exercise component. This study shows improvement in body satisfaction with intervention.
