Managing childhood obesity

Carleene Grant-Davis, Child & Baby health

Obesity is an excess percentage of body weight because of fat that puts people at risk for many health problems. In children older than two years of age, obesity is assessed by a measure called the body mass index (BMI).

According to aap.org, American Academy of Pediatricians, over the past two decades, the prevalence of children who are obese has doubled, while the number of adolescents who are obese has tripled.

What is BMI?

BMI is calculated from a child's weight and height. The BMI is a reliable indicator of body fat for most children and teens. Your child's paediatrician should assess BMI at each well visit beginning at age two.

When are children considered overweight or obese?

Children and adolescents with a BMI over the 85 per cent but less than 95th percentile are considered overweight, and those with a BMI greater than the 95th percentile are considered obese. Overweight or obese children and adolescents are at risk for many health problems. These include:

1. Physical health: glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, Type Two diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gallstones, sleep apnea, asthma, skin conditions, menstrual abnormalities, impaired balance, orthopaedic problems.

2. Emotional health: low self-esteem, negative body image, depression.

3. Social health: stigma, teasing and bullying, negative stereotyping, discrimination, social marginalisation.

Adapted from the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity Obesity Fact Sheet

All families should strive to live healthy active lives. Healthy nutrition starts as early as infancy, with breastfeeding. Once your baby begins eating solid foods, introduce nutritious foods early on and often. Sometimes toddlers need to try a food 10 times before they actually accept and enjoy it. It is also important to encourage playtime as soon as they start crawling and walking.

As your children grow, continue to help them live a healthy active lifestyle by aiming for these goals:

5 fruits and vegetables a day.

2 hours or less of screen time (TV, computer, video games) per day.

1 hour of physical activity a day.

limit sugar-sweetened drinks.

To help children live healthy active lives, parents can:

Be role models themselves by making healthy eating and daily physical activity the norm for their family.

Create a home where healthy choices are available and encouraged.

Make it fun - find ways to engage your children, such as: playing games together, cooking healthy meals together, creating a rainbow shopping list to find colourful fruits and vegetables, and growing a family garden.

Families can also try: eating breakfast every day; eating low-fat dairy products like yoghurt, milk, and cheese; regularly eating meals together as a family; limiting fast food, and eating out at restaurants; preparing foods at home as a family and eating a diet rich in calcium and fibre.

Help your children form healthy habits now. Healthy, active children are more likely to be healthy, active adults!

Dr Carleene Grant-Davis is a consultant paediatrician and head, Dept of Paediatrics, Cornwall Regional Hospital; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.