Childhood Obesity

15 Apr 2009
By Shane Hardcastle
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A hot topic around the world at the moment is the issue of childhood obesity. There are some scary statistics coming out of the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding the extent of this problem. 

The amount of overweight children has more than quadrupled over the past four decades. In the late 1960s, approximately 4% of children ages 6 through 19 were overweight. Now, it is estimated that approximately 18% of same aged children are overweight. Obesity has even impacted the preschool population. In all, including those children and adolescents who are at risk for overweight, up to 30% of youth in the Western World carry excessive body weight. Without significant intervention, current trends suggest that the prevalence of obesity will continue to rise, beginning at even younger ages. 

The effects of this increase have been well documented in the media. These include teasing, difficulty playing sports, fatigue, sleep apnea, and other obesity-related problems that severely affect overweight children’s sense of wellbeing. I personally know of many students whom I have taught that have underperformed at school due to a decrease in self-confidence brought about by body weight issues. Unfortunately, both boys and girls are susceptible to these negative feelings, particularly when they reach high school.

So, what can we do to avoid this situation in our children? Fortunately it is never too late to implement behavioural and environmental changes so that we can avoid our children suffering the physical and emotional effects of obesity. In summary, these changes are:

-       Provide healthy food and beverage choices;

-       Assist children in making healthy nutrition decisions;

-       Encourage and support regular physical activity

-       Limit television and video game time

-       Act as positive role models to your children

Almost every parent will read this list and agree that it all of these make sense. However, it is my belief that parents lack the skills and knowledge to implement them. It is one thing to identify these important changes, but another altogether to know what practical things can be done to make them a regular part of life. For example, we know that by limiting TV and computer games, children will make healthier choices with their leisure time. The key is HOW do we do this? I know myself that taking their Nintendo DS away from my children only causes conflict and argument. However, if I provide them with better alternatives, then we can reach a win-win situation.

The good news is that I, along with an expert pediatrician, have written a detailed guide that provides practical advice and checklists for parents to have them implement the changes outlined above. This ten page report covers everything that parents need to know, including the use of BMI’s and a range of additional resources under every area. A summary of this can be found within The Learning Guardian’s Guides page.

Don’t forget, if you would like to disucss this area further, just leave a comment and we can continue this conversation. I look forward to hearing from you!.

Regards,

Shane

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