C HILDHOOD O BESITY

I NTRO TO C HILDHOOD O BESITY t.aspx?rID=4077&fID=345

cdc.gov

P REVALENCE 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.

O BESITY & R ACIAL / E THNIC D ISPARITIES 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

C AUSES OF OBESITY Bigger portions From 1977 – 1994: 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

C AUSES : L ESS N UTRITION 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.

C AUSES : M ILK CONSUMPTION American Heart Association

C AUSES : A DDED 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

C AUSES : E ATING O UT 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 y/o eat fast-food an average of twice a week. American Heart Association

C AUSES : L ACK OF P HYSICAL E XERCISE Although at least 30 minutes of moderate activity is recommended daily. 23% of children have no free-time physical activity Schools have dropped PE classes Media has replaced activity Neighborhoods may be unsafe

C HILDREN /T EENS & BMI BMI: Body Mass Index 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 5 th percentile Healthy weight: 5 th to 84 th percentile Overweight: 85 th to 94 th percentile Obese: 95 th 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