The Fight Against Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a raging epidemic in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, about 17% of adolescents between the age of 2 – 19 are affected by this disease. Of the total adolescent population, that 17% equates to approximately 12.7 million individuals. According to these two organizations, the prevalence of obesity was higher among Hispanics (21.9%) and non-Hispanic Blacks (19.5%) than among non-Hispanic whites (14.7%). The prevalence of obesity was lower in non-Hispanic Asian youth (8.6%).
Body mass index (BMI) is the tool used to measure obesity in the child and adolescent populations. BMI is calculated by dividing an individual’s weight in kilograms by their height in square meters. Specifically, for children and adolescents, BMI is age and sex specific and is referred to as BMI-for-age. Rather than use a blanket range, children and adolescent categories fall into percentile ranges. They are listed below:
Weight Status Category | Percentile Range |
Underweight | Less than the 5th percentile |
Normal or Healthy Weight | 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile |
Overweight | 85th to less than the 95th percentile |
Obese | 95th percentile or greater |
To ensure that you do everything you can to keep your child at a healthy weight, here is a list of tips on ways to engage a healthy lifestyle:
- Eat family meals – As David Talley, the EDWS Wellness Program Administrator, mentioned last month in his article “Importance of Family Meals,” eating together can improve family members’ physical and mental health. At the dinner table, you can control the portions, you can introduce new foods, and kids can learn to love their vegetables.
- Curb the technology – There is research that suggests a direct correlation between the usage of interactive technology and the decline of physical activity. Encourage the youth in your life to get away from the screen and enjoy the outdoors.
- Participate with them – Not only is it a good idea to encourage your children to take part in extracurricular physical activities, but join in with them! Play a game of pick-up basketball with them, go swimming with them, play tag with them, play kickball with them. If you are able, join in as much as you can with them!
Article Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For more information, visit their website https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/
Contributing Writer: Tony Price, Health and Wellness Coordinator, Employee Development and Wellness Services, Georgia State University