Childhood Obesity: A Cultural Epidemic

1. Childhood Obesity: A Cultural Epidemic Its causes, effects, and how we can solve the problem

2. What is Obesity? • Though there is no “ideal” weight for everyone, a person is considered obese when his/her BMI is over 30 • BMI is a person’s Body Mass Index

3. Calculating BMI • In addition to the numerous websites available to calculate one’s BMI, there is a formula: • Weight(lbs) (704.5)/(height(in))2

5. What makes a kid/teen overweight? • Instead of using the word “obese” the Centers for Disease Control refer to two markers for those who are overweight • The 85th percentile is considered “at risk”, corresponding to a BMI of 25 for adults • The 95th percentile is the more severe level of “obesity”, corresponding with a BMI of 30 for adults

6. 8 Main Causesaccording to a study of 9,000 seven- year- olds • High birth weight • Obesity in one or both parents • +8 hours of TV per week by age 3 • Larger size in early life, measured at 18 months • Rapid weight gain in the 1st year • Rapid “catch up growth” between birth and two years of age • Less than 10.5 hours of sleep per night by age 3 • Early development of body fat in pre- school children • Before age 5-6, when it should start increasing

7. Though humorous, this cartoon reflects the mentality of modern America

9. Part of the reason for the marked increase in obesity over the past 40 years is the shift in the types of calories being consumed • 10% of caloric intake is from soft drinks, that’s double from what it was in 1980 • American children spend nearly $30 billion of their own money annually on junk food, a result of increased advertising specifically targeting them • Since 1994, 600 new children’s food products have been introduced, half of these being candies and gum

10. There are many factors that can influence a child’s chances of becoming overweight

11. Recent studies have shown that one of the many factors influencing the weight of children today is their ethnicity

12. Frightening Food • As time goes by, children have been consuming increasing amounts of soft drinks, which contain highamounts of sugar and calories devoid of any nutritional value • 30% of the calories in an average child’s diet come from these junk foods • Some pediatricians estimate that many overweight children may consume 1200 to 2000 calories per day solely from soft drinks • In recent years, low income families are finding it increasingly difficult to afford healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables • The foods that are most convenient (fast food, microwave meals, packaged snacks) are generally less nutritionally valuable and highly processed

13. Two of the main causes of obesity exemplified: unhealthy food and a sedentary lifestyle

14. Enough Exercise? • Suburban and Urban environments discourage walking or biking to places, with increased emphasis on riding in cars • Less opportunity for exercise in schools • Leisure activities such as video games becoming dominant over outdoor sports etc.

15. The many risks associated with being overweight

16. Long term effects of obesity

17. In this study, mothers of Australian pre-school aged children were questioned concerning their children’s weights and whether or not they would consider them overweight currently

18. This box an whisker plot reflects those mothers from this same survey who were concerned about their children being overweight in the future

19. What Can Be Done? • Funding in schools can be increased in order to allow for more nutritious school lunches • Allowing time for physical activities during school hours • Instilling healthy eating and exercise habits in children, starting with the parents • Encourage family out door leisure time as opposed to video games or tv

21. According to scientists in England, based on the trends in recent years,by 2010, obesity rates in adults will further increase, as shown in this graph • This same British group estimates that if no action is taken, obesity rates in children will continue to increase at a frightening rate

24. If nothing is done about this nationwide, and even worldwide problem, we will have to deal with the consequences of the ailments of our children of today as they grow up to be our unhealthy adults of tomorrow. It is essential that children learn good habits now for better lives tomorrow.

25. Works Cited • Anne Collins Weight Loss Program 2007. 20 Oct. 2007 <http://www.annecollins.com/weight-loss/body-mass-index.htm>. • “ERIC Digest.” American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. 1990. 20 Oct. 2007 <http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/obesity.html>. • “Research Uncovers 8 Causes of Childhood Obesity.” Daily News Central. 20 May 2005. 19 Oct. 2007 <http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/802/0>. • “Childhood Obesity in the United States: Facts and Figures.”Institute of Medicine of the National Academics. Sept 2004. Institute of Medicine. 19 Oct. 2007 <http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/22/606/FINALfactsandfigures2.pdf>. • “The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity.” Feb 2004. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. 20 Oct. 2007 <http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/The-Role-Of-Media-in-Childhood-Obesity.pdf>. • Haire-Joshu, Debra. Laura L. Hayman and Marian L. Fitzgibbon. “Childhood Obestiy: Can Policy Changes Affect this Epidemic?” Society of Behavioral Medicine. 2007. Society of Behavioral Medicine. 19 Oct. 2007 <http://www.sbm.org/policy/childhood_obesity.asp>.