Will
your kids be fit or fat?
Six ways to mold your child's future shape.
By Margaret Littman for Lifetimetv.com
Most of us know by now that obesity in adults is a growing problem, but
less attention has been paid to the expanding waistlines of the younger
generation. According to a study conducted by Weight Watchers International
Inc. and the American Health Foundation, 25% of American children are
now officially overweight, and the youngest are especially at risk. The
American Dietetic Association (ADA) found that 14% of six- to 11-year-olds
weighed more than they should, as did 12% of 12- to 17-year-olds. These
extra pounds are more than just a passing phase; another ADA study suggests
that half of obese adolescents will become fat adults.
"Obesity among children is increasing at an alarming rate, and the
health consequences are very severe," confirms Karen Miller-Kovach,
R.D., chief scientist for Weight Watchers, who cites that the dramatic
increase in Type II diabetes in teenagers is just one of the serious medical
problems linked to the trend.
What's behind the growing number of chubby children? Simply, "lack
of exercise accounts for more than 50% of the problem," says Miller-Kovach.
And despite the popular belief that fast food is at the root of our collective
portliness, she adds, just 30% of the problem is due to overeating or
choosing the wrong types of foods. Instead, experts point to cutbacks
in school physical education programs, less time spent outdoors and more
time playing video games or sitting in front of a computer, and even the
rise in street crime, which makes parents uneasy about letting kids do
things such as ride their bikes around the block.
So what can we do to help kids stay fit for the long haul, without making
them anxious or weight-obsessed? There's no one-size-fits-all answer,
says Miller-Kovach, but there are a few basic guidelines. Monitoring your
child's every bite, for instance, is a tactic that's likely to backfire.
"And you absolutely do not want to create a closet eater," she
continues, which can happen when parents are overbearing about eating.
Rebecca Unger, M.D., an attending pediatrician at Children's Memorial
Hospital, suggests keeping an eye on your child's height and weight without
talking to him or her about being on a "diet." Instead, she
suggests, "Talk about fitness and being healthy." More ideas:
Put the squeeze on juice. Many parents consider juice
to be a healthful drink, and they serve it to kids in lieu of low-fat
milk or water. But juice is high in sugar and calories. In fact, the American
Academy of Pediatrics reports that many children wind up getting the majority
of their calories from beverages, when they'd be better off getting them
from fresh fruit and other healthful solid foods.
Toss the scale. Instead of focusing on your child's weight,
pay attention to other measures of fitness, such as whether he or she
can walk a flight of stairs without feeling out of breath.
Check the medicine chest. Sharon L. Hirsch, M.D., attending
physician at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and assistant professor
in the department of child psychiatry at Northwestern University Medical
School, says that, while rare, some prescription medications used to treat
depression, autism and other conditions can cause weight gain. If your
child is on medication and has gained weight despite a fairly active lifestyle,
ask your pediatrician about this possible connection.
Get 'em moving. Assign calorie-burning chores, such as
walking the dog or mowing the lawn; or suggest active entertainment, such
as bowling or a game of catch.
Don't use food as a reward. Instead of candy and ice
cream sundaes, Dr. Hirsch suggests that parents use stickers or new sports
equipment to celebrate kids' accomplishments.
Practice what you preach. Whether you look in the mirror
and call yourself fat or you skip the gym to surf the Net, chances are
your kids are watching you closely. Help them learn how to live a healthy
lifestyle by practicing what you preach.
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