When is Chubby no Longer Cute?

By: Janella Schroeder RN

Everyone loves a chubby baby…the chubbier they are, the cuter and more “healthy” they seem; but when does “chubby” become unhealthy? As cute as a chubby child may seem, it is a very startling fact that the number of children and adolescents that are considered overweight or obese has more than doubled in children aged 2-11 and tripled in adolescents ages 12-19 over the last 20 years (Center for Disease Control, 2009).

Today there is much concern over “labeling” children or causing self esteem issues, so many unhealthy weight problems dealing with children are left untouched by parents and schools. It is imperative to realize though that ignoring the problem in childhood can lead to a life full of health and emotional problems that can be detrimental. It has been shown that overweight children are almost twice as likely to be overweight as an adult and that overweight children can develop “adult” diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and heart disease. The effects of being overweight are not only physical however, the emotional stress of being overweight in childhood can lead to depression, low self esteem, and can even hamper academic success (Center for Disease Control, 2009).

To put it plain and simple, being overweight is caused by an imbalance of calories eaten vs. calories burned through normal body function and everyday activity. The important issue to focus on though is what has changed in the last 20 years leading to this imbalance. There has become an overabundance of fast food and non-nutritional “junk” food consumed by children and adults alike. The increasing oversized portions served at restaurants and at home can be detrimental to a child’s weight and health. There is also a lack of physical activity both at home and school. There is an increasing lack of funding for physical education classes and sports and at home there is more time spent on sedentary activities such as TV, video games, and computer. One of the most damaging effects on a child’s weight is the lack of guidance and education on healthy lifestyle choices by both schools and parents.

So how can all this start to be reversed? The schools needs to start providing healthy and balanced lunch choices, daily physical activity for children and adolescents, and most importantly educate children on balanced eating, making healthy choices, and exercise. Some very useful information can be found at: http://www.mypyramid.gov/Kids/ and http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/TreatmentGuides/exercise.html. At home parents can start by including children in meal planning, shopping, and preparation, keeping healthy snacks in house in place of junk food, paying attention to portion sizes (not just the child’s, but theirs too…children learn by watching) and most of all encourage children to “Get up and play and hour a day” (Healthier US).

References:

Be A Player Get Up And Play An Hour A Day. (n.d.). Retrieved Feb. 22, 2010, from Healthier US: http://www.healthierus.gov/video.html

Childhood Overweight and Obesity. (2009, October). Retrieved Feb 22, 2010, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html

NOTE: This blog post reflects the work of Janella Schroeder, RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.