 Childhood
obesity has increased to epidemic proportions in the United
States. The increase in the numbers of children who are
considered overweight now includes children as young as
5. The number of overweight children and obese children
has doubles in the last two decades. 15.3 percent of 6
– 11 year olds and 15.5 percent of 12 – 19 year olds are
at or above the 95th percentile for body mass index.
Is your student at risk of becoming overweight? Some
common risk factors include:
-
a diet high in sugar and fat and low in fruits and
vegetables,
-
lots of time spent watching television or playing
video games and
little time spent in unstructured play time or exercising,
-
a high carbonated soda intake and,
-
a family history of being overweight.
Encouraging moderation in eating, making health food
choices and limiting television watching to two hours
a day, are all simple measures that can help prevent children
from becoming overweight. Asking your child’s healthcare
provider to check your child’s Body Mass Index
is a primary diagnostic tool to help determine your child’s
ideal weight. It is a measurement of the ratio of height
to weight and will help identify early changes in weight
that may lead to obesity. This measurement should be done
once a year.
Children who are overweight have a greater incidence
of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol,
all leading to significant problems as adults. Early recognition
and intervention can help our children become healthy,
active adults.
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