The Family Perspective Being on the front lines

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The Family PerspectiveBeing on the front lines

• Lisa Hark, PhD, RD
• Director, Nutrition Education and Prevention
  Program
• University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• www.lisahark.com

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Objectives/Questions

• Why are more kids overweight now?
• What is the role of the family?
• What common themes did I encounter?
• What lessons did I learn?
• What are my hopes for the future?

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Media Attention Lets use it!
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• OK, SO THERE IS A PROBLEM!
• But why is this happening?

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• Factors Contributing To Weight Gain

Calories
Portion Sizes
Fruits and Vegetables
Sweetened Drinks/Snacks
Low-fat milk
Exercise,Gym, Recess
Fast Food Snack Food
TV, Video and Computer Game Time
Source Lisa Hark, PhD, RD
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Calorie Balance Too HighWeight Gain Results
Growing Developing Metabolizing Exercising
Food Intake

Source Lisa Hark, PhD, RD
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Media in the Bedroom

• Percent of 8-18 year-olds with each medium in
  their bedroom

Television
68
VCR/DVD player
54
Video game console
49
Cable/satellite TV
37
31
Computer
20
Premium cable channels
Internet access
20
Source Kaiser Family Foundation, Generation M
Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-Olds, March 2005
kff.org
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• What is the role
• (and responsibility)
• of the family?

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Front Line Themes

• Huge consumption of sweets, drinks, snacks.
• Kids eating what ever they wanted day and night.
• Many diets low in vitamins and minerals.
• Rotten teeth, poor sleep, lack of energy, HTN,
  pre-diabetes, excess weight, mood swings.
• Highly sedentary lifestyles
• TV and video games in most bedrooms
• Kids vegging out for hours and hours

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TV Rules Parents Role Percent of all 8-18
year-olds who say they have
TV rules that are enforced most of time
20
No rules about TV
53
26
TV rules that are enforced some, a little or
never
Source Kaiser Family Foundation, Generation M
Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-Olds, March 2005
kff.org
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Household Media Environment Percent of 8-18
year-olds living in homes where
TV not usually left on during meals
TV is usually on during meals
36
63
Source Kaiser Family Foundation, Generation M
Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-Olds, March 2005
kff.org
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Lessons Learned

• Under reporting of TV and videogame use
• Children are running the household
• Parents want to take control but cant
• Healthy lifestyle is a low priority when busy

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• So what can we do?

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A Public Health Framework to Prevent and Control
Overweight and Obesity

• Food and Beverage Industry
• Agriculture
• Education
• Media
• Government
• Public Health Systems
• Healthcare Industry
• Business and Workers
• Land Use and Transportation
• Leisure and Recreation
• Community- and Faith-based Organizations
• Foundations and Other Funders

Social Norms and Values

• Home and Family
• School
• Community
• Work Site
• Healthcare

Sectors of Influence
Behavioral Settings

• Genetics
• Psychosocial
• Other Personal Factors

Individual Factors
Food and Beverage Intake
Physical Activity
Energy Expenditure
Energy Intake
Energy Balance
Note Adapted from Preventing Childhood
Obesity. Institute of Medicine, 2005.
Prevention of Overweight and Obesity Among
Children, Adolescents, and Adults
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Addressing the Problem
Public Policy
Community
Organizations
Family
Individual
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Creative packaging on healthy foods
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Character licensing primarily on healthy foods
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My Hope for the Future

• Parents prioritize discipline better-starting
  early.
• Food industry creates more healthy foods for
  kids.
• Advertising unhealthy foods to kids is
  prohibited.
• Recess everyday and gym at least 1 x per week is
  mandated in ALL U.S. schools.
• TV shows increase coverage of healthy lifestyles.