The Facts:
The figures are staggering. According
to the Centers for Disease Control
and the National Center for Health
Statistics, in 1999 over nine million
or 15 percent of American children
and adolescents between the ages
of six and 18 were overweight, triple
what the percentage was in 1990.
That number is growing rapidly and
experts say that figure is now at
least 25 percent. Over 10 percent
of preschoolers between the ages
of two and five are overweight,
up from seven percent in 1994.
The Consequences:
High blood pressure and cardiovascular
disease
Type 2 Diabetes, which used to only
be diagnosed in adults
Liver disease
Breathing disorders
Back pains
Elevated cholesterol
Hip and knee strain
70 percent chance of becoming overweight
adults, increasing to 80 percent
if both parent are overweight
Depression, low self-esteem, lack
of self-confidence
Is Your Child Seriously
Overweight, Or Is It Just "Baby
Fat"?
With adults, you can measure the
Body Mass Index (BMI), but with
kids it’s more complicated
because they go through growth spurts.
You can look at the sliding scales
that measure height to weight and
see where they fit with kids of
the same age. But there are red
flags — obsession with food:
thinking of food all the time as
an activity as opposed to a necessity.
If all they want to do is eat and
go back to the kitchen again and
again. Hoarding or hiding food:
You find food in their room; they
are embarrassed to let you know
they are eating.
Important Reasons for Changing
Eating Habits:
This is a health issue and not about
appearance. Children are facing
chronic health problems that shouldn’t
occur for years or decades. And
though children may be overweight
and their calorie intake is excessive,
they aren’t necessarily well-nourished,
often not getting enough calcium,
vitamins and fiber because of a
lack of fruits and vegetables.
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