| Obesity
epidemic hits too close to home for Cache family
By Lexie Jost
March 09, 2006 | Michael
Johansen is a typical second grader at a local elementary
school. He likes to play video games, wrestle with his
older brother, and believes that all girls have cooties.
He also likes to run and play soccer, but there is something
prohibiting him from doing so for longer that a few
minutes at a time. No, it's not his overprotective mother
or his less than state-of-the-art sneakers. It's his
weight. At age 7, Michael weighs 148 pounds.
Like Michael, nine million other
American kids are obese. Approximately 15 percent of
all children in our country's classrooms can be classified
as obese or overweight. Childhood obesity rates are
growing at an alarming speed, enough to be labeled an
epidemic. In a study conducted by the Utah Department
of Health, Utah children are following the national
trend of unhealthy weights. More than 25 percent of
Utah elementary students are overweight. The study also
reported that almost 12 percent of Utah children are
obese.
Society contributes the causes of
childhood obesity to many different things. Increased
fast-food consumption, distractions like television,
video games, and computers are among the leading factors,
according to a recent study by the national Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention's division of nutrition.
The director of this program, William Dietz, claims
that television has changed national food consumption
patterns.
"Children will be more likely
to eat foods that are advertised, which often happen
to be higher in calories and lower in nutrients," said
Dietz.
Some critics blame the schools. More
and more elementary and middle schools have candy and
soda machines around every corner, making it easier
for kids like Michael to become unhealthy. Schools around
the country are now rethinking their deals with companies
like Coca-Cola and McDonald's, which pay schools and
sponsor sports fields in exchange for the right to distribute
products to students. A decline in physical activities
is also a factor. Physical education is offered as a
side note in most Utah schools, including Michael's.
In fact, only 8 percent of elementary schools, 6 percent
of middle schools, and 5 percent of high schools provide
daily physical education.
Still others blame the parents, whether
it be for a lack of breast-feeding, which has been linked
to protect against obesity, or a poor example later
in childhood. In a Rand Corporation study released in
September 2003, parental roles were stressed to exert
a positive influence on their children by promoting
healthy foods and an active lifestyle. Many Utah parents
are so busy with their careers that when they return
home from work, the only thing they want to do is relax,
leading to a sedentary lifestyle, thus providing a poor
example for children.
Some children spend all of their
time watching television, playing video games, and surfing
the Internet. Michael, for example, spends an estimated
20-30 hours in front of the television each week. None
of these activities are bad, but in excess, or when
combined with a nutrient-lacking diet, the results can
be devastating.
Blame for this epidemic is also placed
upon the shoulders of advertising executives. Experts
say that specific advertisements persuade kids to eat
certain high-calorie foods. The average child views
more than 40,000 television commercials each year and
more than half of those promote high-calorie foods and
beverages. By the time those kids reach the age of 14,
52 percent of the boys and 32 percent of the girls consume
three or more eight-ounce sodas per day.
Obesity is dangerous is many ways,
the most notable being its serious health complications.
Thousands of American youth arrive in hospitals each
year because of obesity related health problems. Hypertension,
elevated cholesterol levels, sleep apnea, and type II
diabetes are among the most common. Pediatric endocrinologist
and diabetes specialist Dr. Ravi Shankar said that there
has been a serious increase in the incidence of type
II diabetes in youth.
"A decade ago, we rarely diagnosed
type II diabetes in children and teens. Now, we are
seeing an epidemic increase. The jump is phenomenal,"
said Shankar.
Obese children are also likely to
develop other conditions, as well.
"Arthritis, chronic pain and
back problems are some of the other health complications
with obesity because the extra weight causes more strain
on the joints and bones," said Michael's mother, Sherrie
Johansen.
Childhood obesity is clearly a multifaceted
problem. There are several solutions that can be implemented
to help fight this epidemic. The American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following
actions: encourage healthy eating patterns with nutritious
snacks, change drink ingestion from soda to water or
low-fat milk or other low-calorie drinks, limit television
and computer time to two hours per day, routinely promote
physical activity, and eliminate sweetened drinks in
public schools.
According to a Calorie Control Council
survey, 48 million -- 25 percent -- of the U.S. adult
population are currently on a diet. A good way for obese
children to combat their size is to combine healthy
eating with exercise. About 30 minutes of moderate exercise
most of the week is recommended to maintain good health
and 60 minutes is recommended to attain weight loss.
"As Utahans, we have no excuse.
We can take advantage of the great area and weather
to become active and use all of the outdoor facilities
available," said Johansen.
Several institutions are already
taking steps to a healthier Utah. The Gold Medal School
Initiative focuses on improving policies and environments
to support good nutrition and physical activity and
to create partnerships that will promote heart healthy
behavior. The state of Utah has organized programs like
Healthy Utah to educate citizens about keeping a healthy
body, increase cooperation among national organizations,
and mobilize health care providers to combat obesity
through education and treatment. To find out more, visit
www.healthyutah.org
.
Locally, programs such as the Expanded
Food and Nutrition Education and Family Nutrition Programs
, services of Utah State University Extension, exist
to assist the health and well-being of low-income Utahns
by providing them access to healthy, nutritious diets
for the least money.
Michael, with the aid of his mother,
will begin taking steps to improve his quality of life,
including the development of a more nutritious diet
and a regular exercise plan allowing him to play his
favorite sport, soccer. But the fight for a healthy
lifestyle will not be won overnight. If we all do our
part to solve this growing epidemic, maybe kids like
Michael will be able to walk up the stairs without losing
their breath. Maybe they will be able to run, jump rope,
or play soccer at recess. Maybe they will be able to
enjoy being a kid.
NW
DJH |
