CHILDHOOD OBESITY
INTRO TO CHILDHOOD OBESITY
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http://www.researchchannel.org/prog/displayeven
t.aspx?rID=4077&fID=345
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

CAUSES 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
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.
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
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
CHILDREN/TEENS & 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 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

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Cdc.gov
HOT OFF THE PRESS!


http://letsmove.gov/
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/obesity-americaschool-community-fights-back-9805810
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.
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
Age
2-7
Age
8-12
Age
13-17
PSAs on fitness
or nutrition
4,400 per year
164 per year
7,600 per year
158 per year
6,000 per year
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
Prepared foods
Dine-in restaurants
Sodas & soft drinks
Fast food
4%
4%
Candy and snacks
7%
34%
9%
10%
28%
Sugared cereal
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation, Food for Thought: Television Food Advertising to Children in the United States, March 2007.
FOOD ADVERTISING

Advertising budgets:
CSPI, 2003
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
DIRECT ADVERTISING & BEYOND

Advertising goes beyond commericals
Product placement
 School sponsorship

Contracts
 Fundraising
 Channel One
 Contests / Coupons / Incentives

JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOLS


“74% of middle schools and 98% of senior high schools
have vending machines.” (CSPI, 2004)
Who regulates this?

The USDA’s role
FOODS IN SCHOOLS


What message are our kids getting by the types of
foods they can buy in school?
Financial impact of selling healthier foods in schools.

Total revenues increased
HEALTHIER SCHOOLS

Program for success:
Updating the meal program menus
 Enhancing serving and eating areas
 Improving facilities
 Student involvement


Challenges?
CAUSES: LACK OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE

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

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Childhood obesity is not just about food.

What are some benefits of exercise?

What about health risks?
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS

1 hour (or more) of daily physical activity
Aerobic activity: 60+ minutes of moderate- to vigorousintensity every day
 Muscle-strengthening activity: at least 3 days a week as
part of the 60 minutes
 Bone-strengthening activity: at least 3 days a week as part
of the 60 minutes

EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
AND ADOLESCENTS
Type of Physical
Activity
Children
Adolescents
Moderate-intensity
aerobic
Hiking, bike riding, brisk
walking
Baseball, yard work,
hiking, brisk walking
Vigorous-intensity
aerobic
Bike riding, jumping rope,
running, soccer, basketball
Jumping rope, bike
riding, karate,
basketball, crosscountry skiing
Musclestrengthening
Modified push-ups, sit-ups,
rope or tree climbing
Exercises with handheld weights, push-ups,
pull-ups, climbing wall
Bone-strengthening
Jumping rope, running,
hopping, skipping,
gymnastics
Jumping rope, running,
sports like gymnastics,
basketball
CDC, 2008
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & YOUTH
CDC, 2008
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: SCHOOLS

“In 2007, only 30% of 9th-12th grade students said they
attended physical education classes every day.” (CDC, 2008)

Does physical activity have any affect on academics?

What can schools do?
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: COMMUNITIES

What can communities do to encourage physical
activity?
Community-wide campaigns
 Improvements
 Partner with schools
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