Childhood Obesity

cdc.gov

cdc.gov

cdc.gov

Prevalence About 16% of all children and adolescents in the U.S. are overweight. Even our youngest children are affected. Overweight and obesity has increased in all ethnic groups, all ages and both genders.

Obesity & Racial / Ethnic Disparities More common in African Americans and Hispanics. Why? Fewer grocery stores and more fast-food restaurants Less likely to be involved in physical activities Higher poverty rates Other disparities?

(Mirvis, 2009)

Children/Teens & BMI BMI: Body Mass Index For children & teens: It does not measure body fat directly For children & teens: BMI is plotted on a BMI-for-age growth chart Given a percentile rank Underweight: Less than 5th percentile Healthy weight: 5th to 84th percentile Overweight: 85th to 94th percentile Obese: 95th percentile and greater Cdc.gov

cdc.gov

BMI Initially calculated the same as adult BMI But interpreted differently Amount of body fat changes with age Amount of body fat is different for boys and girls Healthy weight ranges change with each month of age for each sex Healthy weight ranges change as height increases Cdc.gov

Costs of Obesity Shorter, less healthy lives Increased economic costs Decreased productivity / earnings as an adult Disease: CVD, Type 2 Diabetes, asthma, etc Societal costs

Worldwide Obesity Which is more prevalent? Global obesity or global starvation? WHO has declared obesity to be one of the top ten global health problems. (Science, February 2003) Of all nations, the United States is number one with regard to obesity (Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World, Greg Critser, 2003)

Causes of Childhood Obesity

Causes of obesity Bigger portions From 1977 – 1994: Portions: Calories increased 9% in adolescent boys and 7% for adolescent girls Portions: Salty snacks increased from 132 calories to 225 calories Soft drinks increased from 144 calories to 193 calories Hamburgers increased from 389 calories to 486 calories. American Heart Association

Causes: Less Nutrition Fruits & Vegetables Only 14% of children (6-19 y/o) meet the daily recommendation for 2-4 daily servings of fruit. Only 20% get the recommended daily serving of vegetables Whole grains Although at least two servings are recommended: Children get less than one serving per day.

Less Nutritious? Food Product #1: Ingredients: roast white turkey, smoke flavor added, water, potassium lactate, modified corn starch, contains less than 2% of salt, dextrose, carrageenan, sodium phosphates, sodium diacetate, sodium ascorbate, smoke flavor, sodium nitrate, natural and artificial flavor, pasteurized prepared cheddar cheese produce: milk, whey, milk protein concentrate, milkfat, sodium citrate, salt, lactic acid, sorbic acid, oleoresin paprika, annatto, cheese culture, enzymes, whey protein concentrate….

Less Nutritious? Food label #2: Food label #3: Ingredients: pears from concentrate, corn syrup, dried corn syrup, sugar, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, artificial flavors and colors. Food label #3: Ingredients: chicken, water, salt, modified corn starch, sodium phosphates, chicken broth powder, seasoning, di- and triglycerides, lecithin, yellow corn flour, bleached wheat flour, modified corn starch, salt, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate…

Causes: Milk consumption American Heart Association

Causes: Added sugar Found in: soft drinks, fruit drinks, sports beverages, energy drinks, and processed foods. Girls’ soda consumption doubled while boys’ consumption tripled. American Heart Association

(Stender, 2009)

Causes: Eating Out Approximately 40% of budgeted food money is spent away from home. Americans’ spending on fast food: Increased from $60 billion to $110 billion in the last 30 years. Children 11-18 y/o eat fast-food an average of twice a week. American Heart Association

(Stender, 2009)

Kids and Fast Food “One-quarter of children ages five to 10 years show early warning signs of heart disease.” CSPI, 2008 Most fast-food menus – especially kids’ menus High in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and calories

Food & Advertising “Children view an average of 3 ½ hours of television commercials per week, and each year they spend the equivalent of a week watching TV ads.” (CSPI, 2003) About half of these ads are for food. There is much debate on whether advertising should be banned for children under the age of 8.

TV Advertising for Food vs TV Advertising for Food vs. Public Service Announcements for Fitness or Nutrition, 2005 Average number of food ads and PSAs on fitness or nutrition seen by children per year by age: Food ads PSAs on fitness or nutrition 4,400 per year Age 2-7 164 per year 7,600 per year Age 8-12 158 per year 6,000 per year Age 13-17 47 per year SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation, Food for Thought: Television Food Advertising to Children in the United States, March 2007.

Distribution of Types of Food in TV Advertising Targeted to Children or Teens, 2005 Among all food ads targeted to children or teens, percent that are for: Breads and pastries 2% Fruit juices 1% Dairy 4% Prepared foods 4% Dine-in restaurants Candy and snacks 7% 34% Sodas & soft drinks 9% Fast food 10% Sugared cereal 28% SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation, Food for Thought: Television Food Advertising to Children in the United States, March 2007.

Food Advertising Advertising budgets: Program / Company Budget (millions) NCI – 5 A Day Program $3.5 CDC – Nutrition & PE $34 USDA – Team Nutrition $10 McDonald’s $665 M&M’s $74 Coca-Cola & Diet Coke $209 Kellogg cereals $284 CSPI, 2003

“Golden Marble Awards” Award for “excellence” Pays tribute to the company that can market to children the most effectively. (Allianceforchildhood.net, 2009) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCT7h-jwCWA&NR=1

Take Home … Assignment: Answer the question: Should advertising for unhealthy foods be banned for children under 8? Type 1-2 page, double-spaced response – answering why or why not. Use at least one source DUE November 11th at beginning of class.