OVERCOMING CHILDHOOD OBESITY

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OVERCOMING CHILDHOOD OBESITY

• AN AMERICAN EPIDEMIC
• Presented by Family Voices of Tennessee

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INTRODUCTION

• Open your window on a sunny afternoon, and what
  do you hear? The chirping of singing birds? The
  yelling of playing children? Odds are these days
  that you'll hear the birds but not the children.
  As kids spend more time in front of television,
  computer and video screens, their physical
  activity levels have decreased. And their body
  weights have increased.

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STATISTICS

• 30 Years ago around 4 of children in the United
  States were overweight.
• Today over 30 of our Nations children are not
  only overweight, they are considered morbidly
  obese.
• If this trend continues, this will be the first
  generation in the United State to die before
  their parents.

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CAUSE

• Genetics
• Hormonal
• Excessive eating, poor food choices
• Little exercise
• T.V. computer and video games
• Safety issues in neighborhoods

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HEALTH RISKS

• Type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Asthma and other respiratory problems
• Sleep disorders
• Liver disease
• Early puberty or menarche
• Eating disorders
• Skin infections

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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL FALLOUT

• Low self-esteem and bullying. Children often
  tease or bully their overweight peers, who suffer
  a loss of self-esteem and an increased risk of
  depression as a result.
• Behavior and learning problems. Overweight
  children tend to have more anxiety and poorer
  social skills than normal-weight children have.
• Depression. Social isolation and low self-esteem
  create overwhelming feelings of hopelessness in
  some overweight children.

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WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE

• If you're worried that your child is putting on
  too much weight, talk to his or her doctor or
  health care provider. He or she can provide a
  complete weight assessment, taking into account
  your child's individual history of growth and
  development, your family's weight-for-height
  history, and where your child lands on the growth
  charts. These evaluations help determine if your
  child's weight is in an unhealthy range.

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SMALL STEPS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

• Parents play a big role in shaping childrens
  eating habits. When parents eat a variety of
  foods that are low in fat and sugar and high in
  fiber, children learn to like these foods as
  well.
• Parents have an effect on childrens physical
  activity habits as well. You can set a good
  example by going for a walk or bike ride after
  dinner instead of watching TV. Playing ball or
  jumping rope with your children shows them that
  being active is fun.

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TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL

• Find out more about the schools breakfast and
  lunch programs and ask to have input into menu
  choices, or help your child pack a lunch that
  includes a variety of foods. Get involved in the
  parent-teacher associationPTAto support
  physical education and after-school sports.
• Talk with your school about implementing a
  Pedometer Walking Program.

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Resources to Help

• http//www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity
  /DS00698
• http//www.nih.gov/news/WordonHealth/jun2002/child
  hoodobesity.htm
• http//www.healthiergeneration.org/engine/renderpa
  ge.asp
• http//www.walkingworksforschoolstn.com/resources/
  
• http//win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/over_child.h
  tm

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of Tennessee
Family-to-Family Health Information Center

• Family Resource Specialists
• West TN Treva Sease
• FVWest_at_tndisability.org
• Middle TN Tonya Bowman
• FVMiddle_at_tndisability.org
• East TN Camille Keck
• FVEast_at_tndisability.org