The Nutrition Post » Child Obesity

Be Active, Eat Well

JoshNahourai — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:57:25 +0000

A report on the town of Colac, Australia, where they're trialling a new initiative to fight childhood obesity.

Many Moms Don’t Know Their Babies Are Overweight

Albert Tovmasyan — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:16:11 +0000

Misperceptions May Pave the Way to Obesity

Many moms of chubby toddlers don't realize their babies are large for their age, and this misperception may be setting the stage for their tots to grow up to be overweight or obese, a new study shows.

Nearly 70% of moms inaccurately assessed their toddler's body size when selecting an image they thought reflected their child's body size. Moms of overweight toddlers were more than 88% less likely to accurately perceive their child's body size when compared to moms of toddlers with a healthy weight, the study shows.

Overall, more than two-thirds of moms were satisfied with their toddler's body size. More mothers of healthy-weight or overweight toddlers were likely to be satisfied than mothers of underweight toddlers.

Erin R. Hager, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, looked at how 281 moms viewed their child's body size.

School Breakfast, The New Food Fight

Mark Bittman — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:02:53 +0000

My father — who turned 89 this past Sunday, bless him — grew up what’s now called “food insecure.” Like many immigrants, the Bittman family ate whatever they could get their hands on. This served them well when dinner was a boiled potato with sour cream.

It served them less well after World War II, when every male in the family was making $60 a week or more, which wasn’t bad when $60 paid the rent. Soon thereafter, my paternal grandparents and their sons — my father had three brothers — were way overweight, even obese. All developed diabetes and heart disease. My father is the only survivor. Both those grandparents and two of my three uncles were dead by the time they were the (tender) age I am now.

Of the two edges of the sword of America’s malnutrition — hunger and obesity — the latter is by far the more prevalent and deadly. In New York City perhaps 2 percent of children have “very low food security,” which might mean vitamin deficiencies, a day without food, a loss of weight, a month of being hungry[2]. Meanwhile, 40 percent of New York’s public school students are overweight or obese, and 2,000 New Yorkers die each year from obesity or overweight-related conditions. All of those deaths are preventable.  No one should belittle even a little hunger, but this why-do-we-even-have-to-talk-about-it comparison of it and obesity is germane because the city’s Health Department recently suspended expansion of the Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program, which serves free breakfast in the classrooms of 381 of 1,750 public schools. The program is ostensibly meant to ensure that hungry kids start the day with something to eat.

Into the Mouths of Babes: The Case For Minding Our Business!

David Katz MD — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:07:27 +0000

There was an expression, once commonly used, to describe a situation in which it was easy to exploit people: "like taking candy from a baby." As with all such similes, the illustration itself was meant to be the extreme, self-evident case. Stealing a baby's candy is something so outrageously objectionable that all decent people must oppose it. It would concern anyone, and everyone. It would be everybody's business.

We don't hear that expression much any more for fairly obvious reasons. There is, if anything, far too much "candy" — and variations on the theme of candy, such as soda, sugary cereals, and so on — to go around; and too much of it in particular heads right into the mouths of our babes. The new-age problem is selling far too much candy to babies (well, children, really). That, too, is objectionable.

I believe we should regulate food marketing to children far more diligently than we do. You may believe I should mind my business. I agree with you!

There doesn't seem to be much we can agree on these days across the spectrum of ideologies and politics. We are, at this juncture in our history, a very politically polarized society — where arguments for gun control confront arguments for "Stand Your Ground." Food marketing to children is among the many issues caught in the vice of opposing convictions. There are those who believe this is a clear case for regulation, and others who feel that parental responsibility is the only counter-measure required.

Could the Childhood Obesity ‘Epidemic’ Be Ebbing?

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:47:01 +0000

After two decades of steadily increasing rates of childhood obesity, at least one state may finally be turning things around.

The rates of obesity in children under the age of 6 in eastern Massachusetts declined during the period between 2004 and 2008, according to a new study.

The researchers also found that the rates of obesity declined more for children who were insured by non-Medicaid health plans.

"In this analysis, we found a substantial decline in obesity prevalence among young children during 2004 to 2008. However, the smaller decrease in obesity prevalence in Medicaid-insured children suggests that the coming years may see a widening of socioeconomic disparities in childhood obesity," wrote the study's authors.

Nutritionist Nancy Copperman, director of public health initiatives at the North Shore-LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y., commented on the new findings.

"This study shows some promise that we might be turning the tide on childhood obesity. What isn't clear is if this decline is from the things we're doing to prevent obesity [that] are causing the change they see," Copperman said.

Results of the study are to be published in the May issue of Pediatrics, but were released online April 23.

Study Weighs In On Diets For Kids

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:17:01 +0000

If you're trying to get your child to drop a few pounds, here's some food for thought: A new study finds that among three types of diets, kids preferred the one emphasizing foods that don't cause blood-sugar imbalances.
Kids also lost weight on the other two diets, however.
"We know the diets are effective. The question now is how we can get people to follow them," said study lead author Shelley Kirk, a dietitian and assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
About 20 percent of children aged 6 to 11 in the United States are obese, which is a step beyond simply being overweight, according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate is similar in adolescents aged 12 to 19.
In the new study, researchers examined 85 obese 7- to 12-year-olds who accepted an assigned diet for a year. The kids had weekly dietary counseling and biweekly exercise sessions for the first three months, and then were on their own for the remaining nine months.

CDC Report: Kids Still Eat Too Much Added Sugar

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:01:01 +0000

U.S. children and teens have cut down on added sugars but still eat too much, according to a new report.
"Added sugar consumption is high among children and teens," says Cynthia L. Ogden, PhD, an epidemiologist with the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, which issued the report.
About 16% of total calories eaten by children and teens are from added sugars, Ogden found.
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting intake of ''discretionary'' calories, including added sugars and solid fats, to a total of 5% to 15% daily.
The new report is published as an NCHS Data Brief.
Ogden examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. It is a government survey that assesses the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population.

Healthy Kids

admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:10:01 +0000

In a city where 22 percent of children between ages 3 and 7 are obese, double the national rate for similarly aged children, we would like to commend the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for meeting and exceeding health and wellness standards in the schools. CPS began revising menus in 2009, prior to passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the first time nutritional guidelines for school lunches had been changed in 15 years.

The new guidelines require schools to serve whole grains, low-fat milk, fruits and vegetables, foods with no trans-fat, and foods low in sodium.

A grant from the Centers for Disease Control, "Healthy Places," allowed CPS to establish and staff a Health and Wellness Promotion (HWP) team within the Office of Nutrition Support Services. Recognizing the link between healthy students and academic success, HWP works to align district policy and assist schools in meeting the criteria for the Healthier U.S. Schools Challenge (HUSSC) ? the school-based component of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign ? which sets specific standards for nutrition education, healthy fundraising, physical activity, and school meals.

Child Obesity Ads Aim To Create Movement Out Of Controversy

Iffat Khan — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:00:35 +0000

It started with the denial of a growing health crisis.

Nearly 40% of Georgia's children are overweight or obese — the second-highest rate in the nation — yet 50% of Georgians don't consider child obesity a problem. What's more, 75% of parents of obese children don't think they have a problem on their hands, according to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the state's largest pediatric health care system.
In response, Children's Healthcare crafted an ad campaign intended to highlight the roles of parents and caregivers in the widening epidemic.

The posters and TV spots of obese children with doleful eyes were as stark as their accompanying messages: "Being fat takes the fun out of being a kid," and "It's hard to be a little girl if you're not," to name a few.

"We felt that because there was so much denial that we needed to make people aware that this is a medical crisis," Chief Administrative Officer Linda Matzigkeit said.

"We knew flowery ads don't get people's attention. We wanted to come up with something arresting and hard-hitting to grab people."
The buzz began almost as soon as the ads started appearing in September on billboards, buses and train platforms around Atlanta. Critics felt images from the Strong4Life campaign were too negative and perpetuated weight-based stereotypes without providing concrete solutions.

"There seems to be this perception that it's OK to shame children and families struggling with obesity because that will provide an incentive to lose weight," said Rebecca Puhl, director of research and weight stigma initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University.

Healthy Eats And Essentials For Kids

Iffat Khan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:57:17 +0000

It's not easy feeding fast-growing kids in a fast-food world: The hot lunches at school often consist of hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and other processed foods, and if your homemade lunch isn’t tasty enough, your children are more likely to mooch junk food from their friends. The biggest challenge is to fix meals your kids want to eat that also deliver all the vitamins and minerals they need. And lest you worry about being fussy or overprotective, consider this: More and more research suggests deficiencies in nutrition can lead to behavioral, developmental, and health problems—everything from allergies and asthma to ADHD. (Blood testing may reveal a severe nutrient deficiency, but your child can be missing out on nutrients without being clinically deficient.) And it’s not just “superstar” nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamins C and A that kids need. Even if you get your children to eat, say, fish, broccoli, and carrots (certainly an achievement), there’s still a world of nutrients they may be missing. We consulted the experts, who all agreed that focusing on real foods is the way to go. “Any food found in nature is a superfood…and all will provide a much better balance of nutrients than a processed, fortified ‘food product’ can,” says Ashley Koff, a registered dietitian in Los Angeles, Calif. With her help and the help of others, we compiled this list of must-have vitamins and minerals and the kid-friendly foods that contain them.

Magnesium 

WHY KIDS NEED IT: Magnesium is as important as calcium for children’s development, says Koff. In fact, the two work together—calcium is a muscle contractor and magnesium is a relaxant—to help kids get a good night’s sleep, build strong bones, regulate blood sugar, support a healthy immune system, and keep nerves and muscles functioning properly. 

SIGNS YOUR CHILD ISN’T GETTING ENOUGH: “Twitchy” legs or restless leg syndrome, inability to settle down at night, muscle cramps, constipation, fatigue, weakness, anxiety, and hyperactivity.

 HOW MUCH KIDS NEED: 110 mg for kids ages 4 to 8; 350 mg for children ages 9 to 13 WHERE TO FIND IT: Soybeans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables

 FUN MAGNESIUM-RICH FOODS: 2 ounces pumpkin seeds (300 mg) Toss lightly in oil and sprinkle with sea salt, then bake on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 425˚F. 2 tablespoons almond butter (97 mg) Make an almond-butter sandwich for a magnesium-rich alternative to peanut butter and jelly.1/2 cup black beans (61 mg) Grind beans in a food processor with a bit of garlic, salt, and lime or lemon juice. Serve with baked tortilla chips for dipping. 1/2 cup oatmeal (56 mg) Bake into an oatmeal-raisin cookie or serve for breakfast with cinnamon, honey, and nuts.

Don’t Blame C-sections For Fat Kids

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:41:01 +0000

Kids born by Cesarean section are no more likely to become obese than if they are born vaginally, a new study concludes.
Past research from Brazil had found a link between excessive poundage and C-sections, leading some scientists to suggest that not being exposed to bacteria from the birth canal could make babies fatter. (See Reuters Health story of May 12, 2011.)
But according to the latest findings, that doesn't appear to be the case.
"We thought from the beginning that probably what happened with the previous study is that they didn't adjust for all of the confounders," said Fernando Barros of the Catholic University of Pelotas. "If a mother gives birth by C-section, she's different than a mother who has a vaginal birth."
For the new research, Barros and his colleagues used data on three groups of several thousand people born in Southern Brazil in 1982, 1993 or 2004.
Researchers contacted the kids at different ages until the oldest had turned 23. Those born by C-section were more likely to be heavy, with obesity rates between nine and 16 percent, compared to rates of seven to 10 percent among kids born vaginally.

It’s My Park- Nourishing NYC

Iffat Khan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:04:56 +0000

About Chef Gina

Gina Keatley is an award-winning chef, nutritionist, and humanitarian. Utilizing her professional and educational experiences, Gina has become known for her food-focused television appearances, cookbooks and her campaign against the use of processed foods in low-income areas. Gina holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Nutrition and Food Studies from New York University and holds a degree in Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts from the Art Institute of New York City. Her professional experience spans the food world; she has worked in hunger management as the founder of her own community food program, as a culinary consultant, food writer and fine dining professional. Gina's specialty is Italian cuisine, although she has a broad international repertoire.

Gina has been featured on such programs and networks as the Food Network, the Dr. Oz Show, AFP Global News Network, ABC Channel 7 New York City, and many more, performing on air culinary and nutrition demonstrations for local and national broadcasts. She is the proud founder and creator of Nourishing NYC, a community food program that feeds, educates, and advocates for tens-of-thousands of in need families annually; and is planning a nationwide expansion in late 2011. Gina is a culinary writing contributor to several food and lifestyle website, magazines and digital based content and is proud to be debuting her inspirational weight loss/moneysaving cookbook in 2012.

Overweight Children Depression Eating

DNS — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:37:02 +0000

For some overweight children, eating may be linked with depression. Learn the signs of depression eating and what parents can do to help.

If you know what to look for, you can probably spot the signs of depression and eating-related issues. Your daughter, who used to run to the playground after school, now prefers to sit in front of the television with her hand in a bowl of potato chips. Your son, a former soccer player, gorges on soda and cheese curls before burrowing into his room behind a closed door, playing video games until suppertime.

Or maybe friends don't call as they used to, and your child seems to go around the house with worried, downcast eyes. Yet when you ask if something's wrong, you get a monotonous, "I'm fine."

If a scene like this seems familiar, it may be time to take action. Overeating can be a symptom of depression. And being overweight can cause child depression if weight leads to feelings of loneliness, isolation, or poor self-esteem. But parents can help break the chain. Here's how to recognize the signs of child depression in overweight children and what you can do to help.

The Depression-Eating Link in Children

Nearly one in three American children is overweight or obese, more than triple the number in 1980. Reports of childhood depression have also increased, and the two problems are often related. The connection between them is not always obvious, but experts say that parents need to pay attention if their children's unhealthy eating habits seem tied to sadder moods or depression.

"The relationship between obesity and depression goes in many different directions," psychiatrist Myrna Weissman, MD, tells WebMD. In a study Weissman and her colleagues at Columbia University published in 2001, depressed children were more likely than other kids to become obese adults. "It's very easy in our culture to get overweight," Weissman says. "And if you are depressed, you may eat to compensate."

Feelings of emptiness — caused by depression or weight — can make children want to fill up on carbohydrates and chocolates. These stimulate the release of chemicals that can make them feel better.

Ways To Empower Kids To Take Charge Of Their Health

DNS — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:57:01 +0000

Sure, you can stock your fridge with nutritious snacks and offer a good example when it comes to exercise, but recent studies suggest that, just like grown-ups, kids need strong internal motivation (not micromanagement) in order to get fit. "Sometimes we get so serious about obesity prevention, we forget that kids are more likely to do it if they're having fun," says Deanna Hoelscher, professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Austin. In fact, researchers across the USA are investigating specific strategies that encourage children to get healthy on their own. Four experts offer their evidence-backed tips to help kids forge healthy habits and have fun.

Let kids in the kitchen
In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a $25 million project that, alongside community interventions, aims to train children to improve their health habits by themselves. One tactic teaches elementary school students to prepare simple, healthy snacks. Showing a younger child how to make uncomplicated recipes builds self-confidence and encourages healthier choices, explains Hoelscher, who is leading part of the CDC project.
Make it work for you: Show even very young children how to prepare snacks like a bowl of non-sugary cereal with berries or a whole-wheat, peanut butter sandwich with carrot sticks. Keep the supplies on the lowest shelves so they don't have to ask for help.

Solution To Obesity Is In The Family

DNS — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:07:01 +0000

Solution to obesity is in the family
Visalia Times-Delta
In fact, other than the technical advice for parents about having their children eat balanced meals that are low in fat and simple carbs, the best, most consistent advice from a panel of experts on childhood nutrition was this: Eat regularly as a …

and more »

Sweetener Gives Kids More Belly Fat and Disease Risk, GHSU Study Finds

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:11:02 +0000

In a study to be published next month in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers at GHSU's Georgia Prevention Institute followed 559 adolescents and their consumption of fructose, a sugar commonly added to foods and drinks as high fructose corn syrup. …

In measuring their fat, those with higher fructose consumption added more visceral adipose tissue, often found in the abdomen and around the organs. Those students had higher resting blood pressure and levels of c-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation. They had lower levels of HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol thought to be protective, and adiponectin, which promotes insulin sensitivity and is anti-inflammatory. Those factors put them at greater risk for developing cardiovsascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Unlike previous studies, the researchers also looked at sucrose, or table sugar, in the diet, which breaks down into fructose and glucose, said author Vanessa Bundy, a first-year resident physician in pediatrics at GHSU.

“We think that they were missing a huge component of fructose in the diet by not accounting for the fructose that comes along in the form of sucrose,” she said.

The sweetener has been increasingly added to food and drinks since the 1970s, and there has also been a monumental increase in obesity over that period, but there still needs to be proof the two are connected, said study lead author Norman Pollock, an assistant professor of pediatrics at GHSU and the institute.

“Even though it is parallel, we still have to provide the data,” he said.

Give Slim Kids Higher Marks, Says French Diet Guru

Amanda Holst — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:27:27 +0000

Pierre Dukan, the nutritionist behind the popular but controversial Dukan diet, has suggested that France tackle child obesity by giving extra exam marks for slimness.

Dukan, who has sold 8 million copies of his diet book worldwide, made the proposal in a 250-page book called "An Open Letter to the Future President," which he sent out on Tuesday to 16 candidates for France's presidential election.
The plan calls for high school students to be allowed to take a so-called "ideal weight" option in their final year exams, the "baccalaureat", under which they would earn extra points if they kept a body mass index (BMI) of between 18 and 25.
Those already overweight at the start of the two-year course would score double points if they managed to slim down over a period of two years.
"It's a fantastic motivator," Dukan told Reuters.
"The baccalaureat is really important in France. Kids want to get it, their parents want them to even more, so why not get them to work together on nutrition?"
Weight gain is becoming an increasing problem in France and experts say sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition are to blame.
World Health Organisation (WHO) figures show 50.7 percent of the population were overweight in 2010, including 18.2 percent classed as obese.
"There's a real problem. Since the 1960s the number of overweight people in France has risen from 500,000 to 22 million and it's going up every year," Dukan said.
"When you reach those levels, it's no longer a health problem, it becomes a political problem, and the leaders of the nation need to worry about it."
As well as the suggestion for students, Dukan's book, which will hit French bookshops on Thursday, contains a further 119 suggestions for the future president on ways to fight obesity.
One idea is the creation of a French fast-food restaurant serving more nutritional versions of the ubiquitous burgers and fries.

Obesity Linked to Poor Mother Toddler Bond

Amanda Holst — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:57:51 +0000

Toddlers Who Have Poor Relationship With Mom May Find Refuge in Food, Researchers Say

Tots who have a poor relationship with their moms are more likely to be obese by the time they turn 15, a new study shows.
So just how does a toddler’s less-than-stellar relationship with mom affect risk for being obese as a teen?
The reasons are not fully understood, but study researchers suggest these toddlers, when coping with stress, may begin to use food as a source of comfort in place of mom at a very early age. The findings appear in the January 2012 issue of Pediatrics.
One thing, however, is clear: Childhood obesity rates in the U.S. are getting higher. As it stands, about 1 in 3 children in the U.S. are overweight or obese and this includes pre-schoolers. This suggests that whatever is causing the uptick starts pretty early.
Relationship With Mom May Play Role in Childhood Obesity
Researchers analyzed close to 1,000 toddlers’ emotional bonds with their moms at 15 months, 2, and 3 years of age. They measured mom’s sensitivity during 15-minute videotaped play sessions. Maternal sensitivity refers to a mother’s ability to know what her child is feeling and respond with comfort, consistency, and warmth.
The researchers also looked for signs of “secure attachment” among toddlers. This means that an infant or toddler sees mom as a safe home base.

Lawmakers Want Cost Benefit Analysis on Child Food Marketing Restrictions

Amanda Holst — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:15:36 +0000

A long-delayed Obama administration proposal that would restrict the types of foods and drinks that are marketed to children suffered another setback Thursday when Capitol Hill demanded a cost-benefit analysis.
An inter-agency working group was supposed to finalize the proposal more than a year and a half ago. But strong push back from the food and beverage industry, forced deeper deliberation of the initiative and several delays.
Senate and House members asked for the assessment Thursday as part of the massive spending bill that will keep the federal government running past Friday.
The administration’s proposal aims to tackle childhood obesity by having the industry market to children only those foods and drinks that make a “meaningful contribution” to a healthful diet and limit sodium, fats and added sugars. Foods that do not meet the guidelines could not be advertised to children.
The administration has stressed repeatedly that the plan is voluntary and meant to serve only as a guideline. But the industry says the initiative amounts to a backdoor regulation that will in effect wipe out advertising to children, eliminate millions of jobs and infringe on commercial free speech.

How Widespread Is Food Addiction

Amanda Holst — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:23:05 +0000

“How prevalent is “food addiction?” is the title of a paper written by Adrian Meule, a doctoral student with the Department of Psychology at Germany’s University of Würzburg. In his introduction, Meule harks back to Dr. Theron Randolph, who recognized food addiction in 1956. Since then, as Childhood Obesity News has remarked, quite a number of other doctors have declared that food addiction is real.

The full disclosure here is that Meule speaks of Dr. Pretlow’s qualitative study of overweight-to-obese children and adolescents, but that’s not the only reason for paying attention. Even more interesting is the sentence that comes just before the reference to Dr. Pretlow’s work, a reminder that aside from his,

“Only two studies examined food addiction symptoms in children and adolescents.”

Isn’t that amazing? There is a general scarcity of studies investigating addictive eating, not only in children and teenagers, but even in adults. The science of assessing food addiction is in its infancy, and there is plenty of scope for additional research.

For instance, Meule writes:

“… the prevalence of food addiction is increased in obese individuals and even more so in obese patients with binge eating disorder… Conversely, an arguably high prevalence of food addiction can also be found in under-, normal-, and overweight individuals. Future studies may investigate which factors are associated with addictive eating in non-obese individuals.”

He looks at the many instances where “parallels have been drawn between substance dependence and excessive consumption of such hyperpalatable foods” — the various rat experiments, and the human studies showing that binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and obesity have something in common, namely that the patients “experience behavioral symptoms and neurochemical changes that are highly comparable to other addictive behaviors.”

Making Headway In Battle Against Childhood Obesity In California

Amanda Holst — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:49:11 +0000

A new study offers hope that California may finally be getting a handle on its 30-year battle with childhood obesity, but it also showcases a patchwork of progress that leaves the majority of the state's counties still registering increases in obesity rates among school-age children.

According to the study, "A Patchwork of Progress: Changes in Overweight and Obesity Among California 5th, 7th and 9th Graders, 2005," prepared by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA), the percentage of overweight and obese children in the state dropped 1.1 percent from 2005 to 2010. However, 38 percent of children are still affected – a rate nearly three times higher than it was 30 years ago, when the obesity epidemic began.

Even more concerning, according to the lead author of the study, UCLA's Susan Babey, Ph.D., is that improvements are not being seen statewide.

"Children's health is still at risk in a significant number of counties," Babey said. "We found that 31 of California's 58 counties experienced an increase in childhood overweight over the five-year period from 2005 to 2010. We hope this county-by-county analysis will help community leaders pinpoint and take action in counties in the greatest danger."

The highest rates in the state were found in Imperial (46.9 percent), Colusa (45.7 percent), Del Norte (45.2 percent) and Monterey (44.6 percent) counties. Two of those counties, Del Norte and Colusa, also had the dubious distinction of having the highest increases over the last five years (16.2 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively).

APNewsBreak: New Advice on Kids’ Cholesterol Tests

Amanda Holst — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:49:05 +0000

More children should be screened for high cholesterol before puberty, beyond those with a family history of problems, according to wide-ranging new guidelines expected from government-appointed experts who are trying to prevent heart disease later in life.

The new advice will be presented Sunday at an American Heart Association conference by some members of a panel for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Any call for wider screening is likely to raise concern about overdiagnosing a condition that may not cause problems for decades, if ever. Yet studies suggest that half of children with high cholesterol will also have it as adults, and it’s one of the best-known causes of clogged arteries that can lead to heart attacks.

Until now, major medical groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have advised screening only children with a family history of early heart disease or high cholesterol and those who are obese or have diabetes or high blood pressure.

However, a West Virginia study tested more than 20,000 fifth graders and found that many with high cholesterol would have been missed by the targeted screening approach used now, said Dr. Stephen Daniels, who led the panel that wrote the new guidelines.

Heart disease starts early in life, and “the risk factors that are important for adults are also important for children and adolescents,” Daniels, pediatrics chief at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, told The Associated Press.

About a third of U.S. children and teens are obese or overweight. And government studies estimate that about 10 to 13 percent of children and teens have high cholesterol — defined as a score above 200.

Classroom Cookery Lessons To Fight Obesity Head On

Amanda Holst — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:31:11 +0000

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other studies revealed that obesity among children has tripled over the past 3 decades, it is vital that we teach children early to form healthy food habits. However, as teachers curriculums are already packed, where does nutritional education in elementary schools fit in? Maybe in subjects, such as math, science, geography and the study of other cultures.

An investigation demonstrates how successfully the Cooking with Kids program helps children learn school subjects as well as develop cooking skills. The study is published in the November/December 2011 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Executive director Lynn Walters founded the experiential food and nutrition education program (cookingwithkids.net) for children at elementary schools that is based on food acceptance principles and social learning theory whereby students prepare, explore, and enjoy fresh affordable foods from various cultural traditions. The program also teaches children how to treat one another respectfully and to practice social skills by collaborating to prepare a meal and eating together. Walters together with program director Jane Stacey have created integrated curriculum materials for children in grades K-1, 2-3 and 4-6.

In order to find out children's attitudes towards cooking and experiences at school and home following a series of cooking plus tasting or just tasting classes alone, researchers from the Colorado State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition interviewed 178 children in fourth grade as well as their teachers and Cooking with Kids food educators. They found that in both classes' students and their teachers expressed positive experiences with curriculum integration into academic subjects, and those participating in cooking classes said they had chances to improve their social skills. The researchers also discovered that those who participated in cooking plus tasting classes did not consider tasks related to cooking at home as "chores", unlike those who received only tasting classes or students who did not receive either type of class. Overall, students reported that the curriculum helped them understand the content of school subjects.

The Truth About Healthy School Lunch – Danielle Stone

Sloan Barnett — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:05:29 +0000

You see vending machines filled with junk food at your child's school and you try not to hyperventilate. Then, the school serves french fries and touts it as a "vegetable" and now you know — you've got a problem.

Most of us have read the devastating news that childhood diabetes and obesity are occurring in epidemic proportions in the United States. According to the CDC, type 2 diabetes (formerly known as adult-onset diabetes) has been reported among U.S. children with increasing frequency over the last two decades. Obesity rates in children are just as alarming, having more than tripled in the past 30 years.

It is clear that our children need a radical change in their diets, and that change begins at home. But if we're serious about creating a truly lasting impact, we need to worry about what they are eating at school as well. This is obviously a steep uphill battle: School systems around the country suffer from a serious lack of funding. Many have become so desperate that they have even turned to junk food advertising and sponsorships to make up for the lack of funds.

So how do we make inroads in our schools? How do we protect our kids? I asked my friend and activist, Colleen Kavanagh, executive director of Campaign for Better Nutrition, for her insight on the subject.

Q: For any parent interested in improving their child's cafeteria lunch, how can they get started, and are there organizations to help them begin this potentially uphill battle?

A: Starting is easy. It takes less than an hour of research:

1. Find out what is already going on. Your district is required by federal law to have a Wellness Policy and a permanent committee that oversees it. Go to your district website, read the policy, put the next meeting on your calendar. While you are on the website, go to the section on school nutrition and find out what they are serving.

2. Brush up on how the school lunch program operates. Just Google the USDA fact sheet on the National School Lunch Program.

3. Email your district PTA/PA to find out what they are doing on school food or if they know of any other parents who are working on it. Put it in your calendar to email those parents to set a coffee date.

4. Start a positive relationship with your food service director; he or she is a key ally. If you don't have support here, all your work will be much harder. Also find allies on the school board — look up the biographies of your board members and determine who might be a likely champion for improving school food. Send the food service director and board members an email letting them know how important you think the school lunch program is for your child/children.

5. Go to www.angrymoms.org and watch their video and access the resources they have compiled in their "Get Started" guide.

Remember that every district is different, so what worked for "two angry moms" or in Berkeley with Alice Waters might not work for your district. After doing your initial hour, spend some time with your new contacts finding out the unique character of your district's food — how much money do they have, do all the schools have cooking capability, are the staff qualified to cook, etc. Be open-minded, there are many ways to improve school food. If your district has no school kitchens or staff that can cook, starting with a goal of cooking from scratch at each school site might be unrealistic. In that case, you might want to find a better vendor, have higher quality or more variety of produce, offer more entree choices, etc.

School Lunch Proposals Set Off a Dispute

Amanda Holst — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:56:56 +0000

The government has some thoughts on how to make the federally financed school lunch program more nutritious: A quarter-cup of tomato paste on pizza will no longer be considered a vegetable. Cut back on potatoes and add more fresh peaches, apples, spinach and broccoli. And hold the salt.

The proposed changes — the first in 15 years to the $11 billion school-lunch program — are meant to reduce rising childhood obesity, Agriculture Department officials say. Food companies including Coca-Cola, Del Monte Foods and the makers of frozen pizza and French fries have a huge stake in the new guidelines and many argue that it would raise the cost of meals and call for food that too many children just will not eat.

With some nutrition experts rallying to the Obama administration’s side, the battle is shaping up as a contentious and complicated fight involving lawmakers from farm states and large low-income urban areas that rely on the program, which fed some 30 million children last year with free or subsidized meals. Food companies have spent more than $5.6 million so far lobbying against the proposed rules.

Eating for A’s – Danielle Stone

Ann Louise Gittleman PhD CNS — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:16:56 +0000

Three-quarters of American children decide what—if anything—they’ll eat every morning. That’s a problem.

“Even nutritional deficiencies of a relatively short-term nature will influence children’s behavior, ability to concentrate, and to perform complex tasks,” Tufts University researchers find.

Starting the day with something as easy as a cereal bar can improve memory, mood, and recall, another study shows.

Research among junior-high girls find that those who got iron and vitamin B3 (niacin) at breakfast had better memory scores. And vitamin B12 intake was linked to better grades at school.

There’s more: Eating breakfast also means kids are less likely to be overweight.

Consider the dramatic rise in type 2 diabetes. Any American child born from 2000 on has a one-in-three chance of developing what was only a few years ago known as adult-onset diabetes.

Starting the day off right with a good breakfast has been linked to a healthy body mass index (BMI). With one-third of today’s children either overweight or fast becoming overweight, that’s important since packing on the pounds leads to type 2 diabetes.

For young people with a family history of diabetes, a healthy breakfast stalls surges in blood sugar. Recent Swedish research finds that whole-grain breakfast cereal helps balance blood sugar throughout the day.

Boys who eat cereal for breakfast have lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, as well as a lower BMI. And college women who skip breakfast experience irregular periods and menstrual problems.

Dr. Ann Louise’s Take:

Parents need to talk with their kids about the importance of good nutrition. It’s essential for children to understand why they need a good breakfast—and to have plenty of healthy foods from which to choose.

Overweight Children: How To Get Kids To Stop Eating Out Of Boredom

DNS — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:38:45 +0000

Dear Susan,

My nine-year old son is constantly snacking. He says it's because he's bored. The only activity he will do is play video games. He has gained a ton of weight. I've tried everything to get him to exercise and stop eating all the time but it isn't working. What should I do to get him healthy?

Signed,
Healthy Mom

***

Dear Healthy Mom,

Consider for a moment what your son's day to day life would look like two hundred years ago. Imagine a world without televisions, computers or cell phones. Pretend you've just walked into a village in New England, or a tribe on the plains, and picture your nine-year old in the midst of this scenario. What is he doing? Sitting on a rock, watching the rest of the children as they run and play or gather food? Not likely. Chances are, he's running, climbing, lifting and moving. This is what children are meant to do, and have been doing for thousands of years. That is, up until very, very recently. Childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate in this country, for the very reasons you describe in your question.

Your son needs to be active. Rather than trying to control his food intake — which can contribute to eating disorders — make the following lifestyle changes in your household.

Clear out the junk. If you have high calorie junk food in the house, he's going to want it. Get rid of processed, sugary, high fat snacks and replace them with foods that resemble their original form. If he complains — and chances are, he will — acknowledge that he's upset without lecturing him: “I know those cookies were your favorite, and I understand that you're mad that Mom's not buying them anymore. It's hard to look forward to eating something, only to find out that we don't have it anymore.” Say this without shaming him by saying you had no choice since he's eating all the time. The less you emphasize your concerns about his weight, the better.

Announce your plan to help everyone in the family get fit and healthy. Make sure your son has at least one physical activity that he does each week, whether it's a team sport like soccer or basketball, or something different such as karate or even bike-riding.

On Nutrition: Family Diet Questions

LynetteL — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:52:15 +0000

The questions here are true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Q: "Dear Barbara: I realize you aren't Ann Landers, however, I do have a family problem that is in your area of expertise. We've tried for several years to convince my granddaughter that several members of her family should diet, exercise, etc. I've been rebuffed on each occasion and my suggestions are totally ignored. Now my great-granddaughter has changed from a beautiful child into a blimp. My family members live in another state, which makes it more difficult for me. Do you have any written material that spells out the ghastly effects of childhood obesity? I'm out of ideas. Thanks for listening to my problems. Sincerely, Concerned Grandad"

Dear C.G.,

Ann Landers, no. But I can point you to materials that spell out the sad effects of childhood obesity. One of the most recent is the 2011 report on childhood obesity from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/problem.html.

Q: "I enjoy your column every week. My daughter is a clinical RD (registered dietitian) at a University Hospital in Arizona. She and her fiance are on the "Paleo diet" most of the time. When they were here for a visit last week, they told my wife and I about it and it sounds…

How Does a Small Classroom Garden Become Part of a Big Solution?

Judy Shapiro — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:47:03 +0000

Alarm bells are ringing nationwide regarding the rising obesity rates among children. Public figures ranging from first lady Michelle Obama to officials across the country are recognizing the severity of the issue and are looking for tangible ways to help reverse the trend. It can seem like a losing battle since kids are hit with a double whammy. First – easy, cheap and convenient access to junk food often outshines healthier choices (ABC News). Then, as kids become used to highly processed foods, healthy options seem tasteless by comparison.

Lots of attention in addressing this issue is rightly focused on school programs because students consume 30% to 50% of their daily calories at school. The solution seems simple enough — properly fund school lunch budgets. But unfortunately with budgets as they are, on average we spend about 90 cents per day per child on ingredients — less than many might spend on their pet's daily diet. Shocking isn't it?

That's leaves a huge "nutrition" gap which explains the urgent need. There are many types of programs from lots of different organizations looking to help make a difference. Some focus on education (e.g.Whole Kids Foundation) , others on cooking (The Creative Kitchen) while others like Together Counts, introduce a balanced of view lifestyle changes — like family meals and activities.

Here's yet another example of an approach that gets at the root of the issue (pun intended). This program is called the "Ground Up Campaign" and it is about providing schools with indoor classroom gardens that let students grow and enjoy their harvests during the school year.

Can Peer Mentors Help Teens Lose Weight?

Amanda Holst — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:07:16 +0000

Obesity among adolescents has more than tripled over the past 40 years, and recent estimates find that over 18% of teens in the U.S. are obese. Education and mentoring targeting obesity and delivered in high schools by peers has been shown to have a significant impact on teen diet and physical activity, according to a study published in Childhood Obesity, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Mehmet Oz, MD, John Cawley, PhD, and colleagues from Columbia University (New York, NY), Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), HealthCorps (Brooklyn, NY), F.E.G.S. Health and Human Services System (New York, NY), and Affinity Health Plan (Bronx, NY), evaluated the HealthCorps model, a school-based obesity prevention program, in six intervention schools and compared the results to those from five control schools. HealthCorps educates students about physical fitness and nutrition, and encourages them to lead a healthier lifestyle. The program targets minority, low-income, inner-city students who are at high risk for developing obesity.