Childhood Obesity

Articles

Sep 1

Childhood obesity is an issue that is growing more and more common in the United States. According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 5 children (which is around 19%) have obesity in our country. Many ways of preventing or addressing this issue exist, and because this problem can lead to serious health issues in the future it is important to ensure we do what we can to help kids grow healthy. September is National Childhood Obesity Month and it gives us the opportunity to help our community and our kids to live healthier and happier.

What We Know About Childhood Obesity

Your doctor can help you of you are questioning whether your child is overweight or obese. Sometimes we hear that kids will “grow out of” any extra weight they seem to carry, especially at younger ages. While this can be true, it is important to talk to your doctor about your child’s BMI. They will compare your child’s BMI percentile with other kids in the same age and height range. Typically the percentile range of 85-95 will indicate that your child is overweight. If your child is in the 95th percentile or higher, they may be considered obese and at risk of additional health problems.

Although measuring your child’s BMI can be a way for your doctor to indicate health, it doesn’t take in some factors like muscle mass or the unique growth patterns of the individual child. There are other factors that come into play, such as your family’s medical history, your family’s nutrition, and level of activity.

Risk Factors Related to Obesity

The most commonly known disease related to obesity is type II diabetes. High blood pressure or cholesterol are two issues now seen in children with weight struggles, when these things typically occurred in adults previously. As childhood obesity is becoming more prevalent, it is important to look at these risks and take the steps to ensure they do not progress toward other diseases or health problems.

The common ailments that result from obesity often lead to other cardiovascular diseases like heart failure or stroke later in life. Putting in the effort for a plan of addressing the problem early is the best way to prevent this from happening in the future.

Mental health also plays a role in childhood obesity. Kids can deal with bullying from their peers which can lead to things like depression or simply making unhealthy decisions due to emotional responses.

How Do Kids Gain Weight?

Weight gain is typically related to how active a child is combined with their level of nutrient and dietary habits. Other factors that influence weight are things like how much sleep they get, patterns in their lifestyle, or simply their genetics.

Today, it is easy to find inexpensive food items at the store which offer little nutritive content but might taste great to kids, like sugary cereals or drinks. The increased levels of sugar in a child’s diet can have a negative impact on their health and weight.

Another major concern for most parents is screen time. Kids today have so many avenues of satisfying their curiosity by using a phone, tablet, or computer. Although the activities they do on devices could be educational, it ultimately means they are not being active and reducing the amount of exercise in their routine, which can lead to weight gain.

Helping Your Child

Eating Together

Families can create habits together! If you are looking to find ways to help your child with their weight, focus on what creating newer, healthier habits together. When you practice healthy eating together, it is much easier for everyone to stay on track. Take the necessary steps to limit foods that have high sugar content or caloric content (like fast food). Replace these things with more fruits and vegetables in your regular routine. You can make meal preparation fun by doing things together and finding quick and healthy alternatives to some of the less healthy options. It can help to simply make sure you all sit down together to eat meals, as it can increase your child’s awareness of how much they are eating.

Practice Being Active

Limits are often necessary for kids to restrain the desire to sit on screens for hours on end. It is recommended that children do not have more than two hours a day on the computer or device or in front of the TV according to the Mayo Clinic. Instead of focusing on getting exercise, kids should be maintaining a higher level of activity, which usually means play! Consider ways your kids could be more active while incorporating things they already enjoy doing. The whole family can form new habits together like taking walks after dinner, doing yoga in the morning, going on weekend hikes, or visiting a local park to play every week.

Adhere to Bedtime

Obesity is linked to inadequate sleep because it can result in your child feeling tired during the day and less likely to have enough energy to get the activity they need. Sleep is important to help them make the best decisions throughout the day and be able to maintain a healthy routine. Kids also need more sleep than adults for their development, so maintaining and adhering to a bedtime is critical for their health.

Since childhood obesity is continually presenting a problem for families in the US, it is important to listen to your child’s healthcare professionals regarding the health of your kids. Working together, families can make smart choices and support each other to be the best they can be. In the long term, making changes to your family’s routine now will have a great, positive impact.

If you need help assessing the needs of your child on an individual basis, talk to your pediatrician or healthcare professionals in your child’s care. Pediatric physical therapists can assess any existing health conditions or factors that might limit your child’s mobility to help find positive solutions. Occupational therapists can address elements of your home routine to help you develop a plan of care that suits the whole family. Speech therapists can help kids with communication and reduce the impact of obesity on the development of social interaction.

Get started with one of our amazing therapists at Tilton’s Therapy for Tots! Learn more about what our therapists provide and how they can help your child and family if you are concerned about childhood obesity.