Child Care Nutritional Articles

obesity

Obesity or overweight develops when the balance between food and activity is upset.

There are health risks associated with overweight children.

Overweight children can have problems with hips and joints and may have trouble breathing (especially at night).

There has been a dramatic rise in the prevalence of child and youth obesity. The results of the 2002 National Children’s Nutrition Survey (5-14 years of age) reported that 69% of New Zealand children were not considered overweight or obese while 21% were classified as overweight and 9.8% were obese.

Childhood weight and height are measured using growth charts. Normal growth is seen when a child follows a similar curve for both weight and height. It is considered normal if weight is within 10% of expected, for the corresponding height.

It is not desirable for overweight children to be placed on weight loss diets as overall growth can be compromised. Instead, weight gain should be slowed down or maintained to allow for the child’s weight to ‘grow into their height’.

In America, an increase in energy intake (from food) was reported as being an unlikely cause of obesity in children because data from the 1970s to 1990s does not confirm an increase in food consumption in children aged 2-19 years. However, a presentation by Dr S Denny, Centre for Youth Health, Auckland reported that soft drink consumption has increased more quickly than any other food group (131% from 1977 to 1996). It is suggested that soft drinks should be limited to special occasions (parties and maybe Friday nights only).

It is important to remember that although it is the parent’s responsibility to provide nutritious foods, a child’s eating habits are influenced by their family’s behaviour. Therefore portion control needs monitoring with main meal serves being cut down and healthy, low-fat snacks offered.

To reduce the energy in the food the child is getting, try:

• Wholemeal or High-Fibre white bread not traditional white. By increasing the fibre content the child may feel fuller faster and not eat another slice.
• Use sandwich slice NOT toast slice, white bread – a thinner slice means less energy.
  Use low fat toppings to bread – jam, honey, banana, tomato.
• A more fibrous breakfast cereal means the child may reduce the portion eaten.
  Provide boiled potatoes more than mashed potato (the addition of homogenised blue milk and butter adds extra fat/energy).
• Make soups without milk; instead use water to reduce fat/energy.
• Desserts should be occasional NOT every night after dinner.

There is a possible relationship between childhood obesity and television watching. It has been reported that childhood obesity was highest among those watching four or more hours a day compared with those watching one hour or less per day.

Obese children are often products of overweight or obese parents or those with a sedentary lifestyle. Children’s physical activity behaviour, especially in the first decade of life, is strongly influenced by their parent’s activity behaviour. Therefore, a low activity level in a parent can negatively influence a child’s activity level and this is more likely to induce excessive weight gain in the child.

(The above article was prepared by - Nikki Hart, NZ Registered Dietitian)

Further Child Care Nutritional Articles

breakfast

calcium for toddlers

fluid

fruit vegetable

iron-rich meal plan

juice debate

obesity

salt intake

snack foods

three year old meal plan

underweight