Obesity Epidemic
Helping children and their families to make
better Nutrition choices
Carmen Cathey
TECA 1318
Summer I /2014
CHILDREN AND OBESITY A RISK TOO GREAT TO
TAKE.
Serious health consequences are associated
with being overweight, or obese at such
young age . In fact, the average life span of
those who are obese as children may be
shortened by as much as 2 to 5 years. Health
experts believe that the adverse
consequences of long-term obesity are so
powerful that the current generation of
children may be the first to have a shorter life
span than their parents ( Fontaine, Redden, Wang,
Westfall, and Allison, 2003; Olshansky et al., 2005).
Dangers of obesity in children current trends and nutrition and
physical activities add up to a poor health outcomes. ( Sorte & Daeschel
2006)
Life Style Factors
Eating
Life Style Factors
Activity
Life Style at School
Fewer infants being
breastfed
Increase in sedentary
activity
More time at table
activities
More snacking
Time spent sitting
Eating meals away from
home
Watching television
Larger portion sizes
Consumption of sugars and
fats
Playing computer
games
Less time playing
actively in centers
around the classroom
Less time playing
outdoors
Decrease consumption of
fruits, vegetables and
whole grain foods.
High density living
Limited access to safe
parks and recreation
facilities
WHAT PARENTS AND TEACHERS CAN DO TO
PREVENT OBESITY IN CHILDREN
1). Encourage healthy eating habits. Small
changes can lead to a recipe for success
*Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits and wholegrain products.
* Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy
products.
* Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils and
beans for protein.
* Serve reasonably sized portions.
* Encourage your family to drink lots of water.
* Limit sugar-sweetened beverages, sugar,
sodium and saturated fat. ( American Heart Association)
2).MAKE FAVORITE DISHES HEALTHIER.
3).Remove calorie-rich temptations.
The American Heart Association recommends that
Treats are OK in moderation, but limiting high-fat
and high-sugar or salty snacks can also help your
children develop healthy eating habits. Here are
examples of easy-to-prepare, low-fat and low-sugar
treats that are 100 calories or less:
A medium-size apple
A medium-size banana
1 cup blueberries
1 cup grapes
1 cup carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers with 2 tbsp.
hummus
(American Heart Association)
4). HELP YOUR KIDS UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF
BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
The American Heart Association points it out the
importance of teaching children how to take care of
their body with a proper nutrition. Some of the
aspects of a good nutrition include:
*Strengthening bone
*Decreasing blood pressure
*Reducing stress and anxiety
*Increasing self-esteem
*Helping with weight management
(American Heart Association)
5). Plan Meals as a Family and Eat at
home
HELPING CHILDREN STAY ACTIVE
According to the American Heart Association, Children and
teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity most days of the week, and every
day if possible. You can set a great example! Start adding
physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage
your child to join you. Some examples of moderate-intensity
physical activity include:
*Brisk walking
*Playing tag
*Jumping rope
*Playing soccer
*Swimming
*Dancing
Work Cited
American Heart Association. (2014). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Tips for Parents and Caretakers. Retrieved from
[Link]
Caton, S. J., Blundell, P., Ahern, S. M., Nekitsing, C., Olsen, A., Mller, P., & ... Hetherington, M. M. (2014). Learning to Eat
Vegetables in Early Life: The Role of Timing, Age and Individual Eating Traits. Plos ONE, 9(5), 1-10.
doi:10.1371/[Link].0097609
Dairy Council of California. Health Eating Made Easier. (2014). Classrooms Programs. Retrieved from
[Link]
Ritchie, L. D., Woodward-Lopez, G., Gerstein, D., Smith, D., Johns, M., & Crawford, P. B. (2007). Preventing obesity: What should we
eat?.California Agriculture,61(3), 112-118.
Sorte, J., Daeschel, I., & Amador, C. (2011). Nutrition health and safety for young children (pp. 15-16).
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education , Inc.
