Childhood Overweight: Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions

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Childhood OverweightNutrition and Physical
Activity Interventions

• Susan Algert

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Surgeon Generals Call to Decrease Overweight
Obesity

• Approx. 300,000 deaths a year currently are
  associated with obesity and overweight
• The total direct and indirect costs attributed to
  overweight and obesity amounted to 117 billion
  in the year 2000.

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The Problem

• In 1999, an estimated 61 of U.S. adults were
  overweight, along with 13 percent of children and
  adolescents
• Obesity among adults has doubled since 1980,
  while overweight among adolescents has tripled

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The Problem

• Only 3 of Americans meet four of the five
  federal Food Guide Pyramid recommendations for
  intakes of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy
  products and meats.
• More than 60 of Americans fail to meet federal
  recommendations for 30 minutes of moderate
  activity five days a week.
• 40 of adults engage in no physical activity

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California

• Approximately 18 of 4th 5th graders were at
  risk for being overweight, and 14 were
  overweight
• Approximately ¼ of teens are at risk for obesity
  and 7 were overweight
• Low income children consistently higher rates of
  overweight

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Costs to society

• Obesity may account for as much as 6.8 of health
  care costs in the U.S, roughly 100 billion a year
• Obesity is associated with a 36 increase in
  inpatient and outpatient expenditures
• Strong association with reduced physical health
  related quality of life

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Communication, Action Research and
Evaluation(CARE)

• Change perception of obesity so that health is
  main concern and not personal appearance
• Direct research toward prevention and treatment
  and toward ethnic/racial/ income health
  disparities
• Ensure daily, quality physical education in
  schools

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CARE

• Healthy food choices in schools
• Community facilities available for physical
  activity
• Reduce time spent watching t.v. and in sedentary
  behaviors

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Components of Fitness

• Strength
• Flexibility
• Aerobic conditioning
• Endurance

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Energy Systems of Physical Activity

• ATP
• Creatine Phosphate

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Glucose Use

• Muscles use glucose and their own glycogen stores
  during exercise
• When glycogen is depleted muscles become fatigued
• Diet and intensity of activity affect glycogen
  use
• Moderate aerobic activity can use fatty acids and
  conserve glycogen

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Fat use during physical activity

• Energy from breakdown of fat can come only from
  aerobic metabolism
• Training affects fat use
• Sustained moderate activities such as walking use
  body fat stores as major fuel source

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Protein Use

• Not a major fuel source for physical activity
• Synthesis of body proteins is suppressed during
  activity
• Contributes no more than 10 of fuel used during
  activity
• Carbohydrate rich diet spares protein from being
  broken down

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Fluids

• Water is most important nutrient
• Water loss of 1-2 can reduce a persons capacity
  to do muscular work
• Recommendation is for 1-1.5 ml/kcal or ½ cup per
  100 kcal expended
• Electrolytes replaced by regular diet

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Physical Activity for Children

• Sports teams
• Lessons
• Exercising in a park, sports facility or school

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Healthy Diet for Children

• Fat?
• Sugar?
• Whole grains, fruits and vegetables