1. Childhood Obesity

2. cdc.gov

3. cdc.gov

4. cdc.gov

5. 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.

6. 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?

7. (Mirvis, 2009)

8. 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

9. cdc.gov

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

14. Causes of Childhood Obesity

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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….

18. 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…

19. Causes: Milk consumption
American Heart Association

20. 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

21. (Stender, 2009)

22. 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 y/o eat fast-food an average of twice a week.
American Heart Association

23. (Stender, 2009)

24. 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

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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

29. “Golden Marble Awards”
Award for “excellence”
Pays tribute to the company that can market to children the most effectively.
(Allianceforchildhood.net, 2009)

30. 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.