Parents key to reducing childhood obesity Published Sept. 13, 2012 By Capt. Amy L. May 23d Medical Operations Squadron MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Childhood obesity should be everybody's concern. Why? Obesity leads to chronic health problems such as high cholesterol, diabetes, joint conditions, sleep apnea, stroke and premature puberty. The emotional struggles include bullying, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. Finally, there will be higher healthcare costs. Currently, one in three children in the United States is either overweight or obese - triple what it was 30 years ago. It is time to identify these children during both regular check-ups and ill visits. By changing the culture in the home and our communities, we will help our children and families be the healthiest they can be. Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Currently, we use the Body Mass Index (BMI) or height and weight calculation to determine those at risk and those who are already overweight or obese. Be aware this is not a perfect measurement, and other factors are used to look at the entire picture. A BMI above the 85th and below the 95 percentile is considered overweight. A BMI at or above the 95 percentile is considered obese. The BMI percentile is used to compare a person's BMI to the rest of the population. Who's to blame? This is not a condition that happened overnight, although some medications and medical problems can cause weight gain. Many factors contributing to overweight and obese children include genetics, convenience and fast-foods, less home cooking, larger portion sizes, increased use of electronic devices, less time outside, less physical activity, and fewer physical education days at schools. It is no surprise that television, gaming and media have invaded our lives. Of course, it has many conveniences. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), when children have TVs in their bedrooms or spend more than four hours per day in front of a media device, they are more likely to be overweight. The AAP recommends no TVs in rooms, no more than two hours of TV per day and none for children under the age of 2. Current guidelines by the AAP for physical activity recommend 60 minutes most days a week. Many PE classes in today's schools may have only 25 minutes per week. The culture in our home also has a major influence on how we eat and our activity level. Just as genetics may be passed down through family members, so can general day-to-day food choices and activity patterns. Studies show that a child's obesity risk is increased if just one parent is overweight or obese. What do we do? The whole-family approach is the most effective. Exercise and healthy eating must be embraced by the entire family. Children need to go to the grocery store with their parents and help plan meals that are healthy. Exercise as a family. Parents need to be the role model for their children. Some traps that increase the risk of being overweight are: · Rewarding children for good behavior with food or sweets · Labeling foods as "good" or "bad" · Forcing children to clean their plates · Eliminating all sweets from the home and being over-restrictive At Moody, the 23d Medical Group Pediatric Clinic is working hard to help your child be the healthiest he or she can be with screenings, advanced testing for overweight and obese children and programs to get your family moving. Military families can access helpful resources here for ages 6 and older where children earn points for eating healthy and being active, and awarded prizes for their hard work. Other sources include "Let's Go 5210" which stands for five fruits and vegetables daily, two hours or less of recreational TV, one hour or more of physical activity each day and no sugary drinks. The government program, "LetsMove" is also a great resource. You can find more information here. Be alert for upcoming events to support the health of our children, families and communities. Contact your primary care manager if you have concerns about your weight or health. The Pediatric Clinic at Moody is passionate about the care we provide to children and families. Information obtained from CDC.org and KidsHealth.org.