CFS 453

Preventing Childhood Obesity in United States: Useful Strategies for Parents

Jessika Berryessa
4/22/15
Wanda Siu-Chan

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States. Children who are obese are more
likely to remain obese in adulthood and obesity may be more severe as the child gets
older. Childhood obesity has many consequences such as a higher risk for cardiovascular
disease and diabetes, but obese adults have even greater consequences. Obesity is a

preventable disease parents can help counteract. Therefore in order to decrease childhood
obesity, prevention strategies in healthy eating, nutrition education and physical activity
have been developed for parents to implement in their childs everyday life.
Approximately 170 million children all over the world are overweight (WHO,
2012, p. 13). The number of obese children is increasing globally, especially in the
United States. According to the CDC (2014b), one third of children in the United States
were either overweight or obese in 2012 (para. 3). Childhood obesity has become a
major problem in the United States due to the rise of this disease in children in the last
two decades. Obesity in young people is a concern not only because of the risks
associated with obesity, but these risks can develop earlier on in life and become more
severe in adult life. CDC (2014a) states childhood obesity is correlated with risk factors
of cardiovascular disease including increased cholesterol and higher blood pressure.
Prediabetes is likely to develop which is a precursor for diabetes. Childhood obesity is
also linked to joint and bone complications, sleep apnea and social and psychological
problems. People who are obese at a young age are also likely to be obese when they are
adults. This can lead to long-term health conditions such as stroke, heart disease, type 2
diabetes, many different types of cancers and osteoarthritis (para. 7-11). Fortunately,
obesity is a preventable disease parents can help fight against. Parents are extremely
influential in a childs life early on. They are the main providers of food for their
children and are responsible for supporting their child in physical activity. Parents should
provide their children with healthy meals and limit unhealthy eating. They should also
encourage physical activity while discouraging sedentary activities. Educating their
children in nutrition is another strategy parents can use to fight childhood obesity. By

modeling a healthy lifestyle for their children, parents can help prevent their child from
becoming obese or overweight.
Parents can help their children develop healthier eating habits in numerous of
ways. One way is to alter their kids favorite dishes into more nutrient-dense meals
(AHA, 2014, para. 3). For example, instead of ordering pizza, making a healthier version
of their favorite pizza would be a good option. Making a pizza with whole-wheat crust
with an option of homemade tomato sauce and low-fat cheese. For the toppings, consider
a lean protein with vegetables. The University of Michigan Health System (UMHS)
(2011) suggests using MyPlate as a reference for families to make healthy food choices
(para. 26). According to the USDA (2012), MyPlate, a nutritional guide for Americans,
maintains children and families should make half of their plate fruits and vegetables, half
of the grains consumed should be whole grains, eat lean proteins, replace sugary drinks
with water, eat less processed food and drink a cup of low-fat milk with each meal (p. 46). Although, children aged 1 through 5 should drink no more than 24 ounces of milk a
day to prevent iron-deficiency anemia (CDC, 2011c, para. 49). Parents following
MyPlate may help their child live a healthier lifestyle. By parents providing more
vegetables, fruits, and calcium rich foods and less sugary drinks to their kids, they can
decrease the risk of their child becoming obese.
In an article written by Davis et al. (2007), proposes suggestions to prevent
childhood obesity from evidence of different studies. They found evidence in a few
studies indicating children who had lower intakes of calcium were more at risk for
obesity. They found a longitudinal study conducted by Skinner, which indicated children
who had a calcium rich diet from milk, yogurt and cheese had less adiposity tissue than
children with a lower intake (p. 2&3). In addition, they discovered the consumption of

sugary beverages and sodas, which are high in calories, were positively associated with
childhood obesity (p. 3). Furthermore, they maintained the ADA supports the
consumption of fruits and vegetables to protect children against obesity (p. 3). Fruits and
vegetables are nutrient-dense foods providing fiber, helping with digestion and to feel full
faster. By eating the recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables and calcium and less
sugary drinks, children may be less likely to overeat, have less adiposity tissue, and
consume fewer calories, helping to maintain weight.
Solely encouraging children to eat more nutritiously may not always be enough.
Parents should throw out any empty-calorie foods or foods high in sugar, fat, or salt
content lying around the house. These foods may promote sneak eating if a child
knows such food is in the house (UMHS, 2011, para. 26). Instead, parents should have
healthy snacks readily available to their child when they are allowed to snack (UMHS,
2011, para. 26). Although nutrient-dense foods are always the healthier option, allowing
children to have an occasional treat may prevent overeating (Department of Health of
New York, 2012, para. 16). Contradictory to this statement, a study conducted by Fisher,
J. & Birch, L. (1999) suggests restricting a childs desire for particular snacks may further
trigger a want for that food (pg. 6). A parent should decide the best way to pursue healthy
eating habits of their child to carry on now and later on in life. Another vital strategy for
parents to prevent their child from becoming obese now and in the future is to teach them
what healthy eating looks like.
Parents can create activities or allow their children to participate in the
preparation of nutritious meals to show them how to make healthy food choices now and
for life. Parents can educate their children in many ways. Blom-Hoffman (2004), a
licensed school psychologist researching on communities where children are at risk for

obesity, suggests to take their children to the grocery store to show them different
nutritious foods and then encourage them to pick out healthy foods (para. 14). This may
also help guide their food choices as adults (Blom-Hoffman, 2004, para. 6). Another
recommendation to help support healthier eating habits is for parents to allow their
children to participate in meal prep. Kids who assist in meal preparation are more likely
to eat healthier and value the importance of eating nutritiously (UOFA, 2012, para. 1&8).
A book titled How to Teach Nutrition to Kids by Connie Evers is an educational toolkit
with fun interactive activities and information for children to learn about nutrition. This
book contains many nutritional activities such as gardening, recipes, MyPlate and in
fitness (24 Carrot Press, 2012, para. 7-8). The USDA Snap-ED Connection insists How
to Teach Nutrition to Kids is an inspirational teaching tool educating children on how to
make healthful food choices in creative ways not only for health professionals and
teachers, but parents as well (24 Carrot Press, 2012, para. 6). Parents can go on many
U.S. government websites to find nutritional learning activities for their children to
participate in. Fun, engaging activities will open up a childs mind to eating healthy and
having a desire to learn more about nutrition. Physical activity is an extremely important
aspect of a healthy lifestyle and children who lack exercise are more at risk for becoming
overweight or obese.
Obesity in children can be hard to manage because they need a certain amount of
different nutrients for proper growth and development. For this, unless their doctor says
otherwise, weight loss is not usually recommended in children (Department of Health,
2012, para. 5&6). If a doctor does not recommend a child to lose weight, the parent
should make sure their child is balancing the necessary calories consumed with calories
expended in order to maintain weight. Brown (2014), who is the author of the book

Nutrition Through the Life Cycle, states the idea is to stabilize their weight as the child
grows in order to naturally balance out an ideal weight for the child (pg. 289). Eating the
right nutrients and calories with the necessary amount of exercise is essential in order to
maintain a healthy weight for a child. Therefore, childs time should be less spent being
inactive.
Parents should limit the amount of time a child spends sitting down watching
television, on the computer or playing video games or screen-time. The AHA (2014)
contends children should not be on any of these devices for more than 2 hours a day and
children 2 years or younger should not watch television (para. 9). Blom-Hoffman (2004)
reports increased time watching television is related to the onset and prolongation of
obesity (para. 10). Blom-Hoffman (2004) maintains this is due to the number of
advertisements for unhealthy foods targeted at child consumers, the sedentary nature of
watching TV, and the fact that most people eat while viewing TV (para. 10). Parents
should reduce the amount of time per day their child is being physically inactive in order
for more time to be spent being physically active.
Parents should encourage their children to be active in many ways. The AHA
(2014) states the recommended amount of physical activity for children and teens is at
least 60 minutes a day (para. 8). Parents can easily accomplish this goal by a number of
techniques. First, the AHA (2014) suggests parents can motivate their children to be
more physically active by communicating to their children the benefits of exercise (para.
7). For instance, telling their children physical activity will help strengthen their bones,
increase their self-esteem or help with weight management may encourage kids to be
more active (AHA, 2014, para. 7). Another way is by simply enrolling their children in
organized sports and support them by not only being their number one fan, but to help

them practice and condition at home. For example, if a child is on a baseball or softball
team, parents can help their kids practice batting, running bases and throwing the ball to
each other. The whole family can also implement a routine of physical activity into their
daily lives. Biking, hiking and swimming are just a few activities the whole family can
do together (Department of Health, 2012, para. 17). Parents should combine these
methods to motivate their child to be more active, which may reduce the risk of
childhood obesity and create a healthy lifestyle well into their adulthood.
Preventing childhood obesity is important due to the likelihood an obese child
will be obese as an adult. In a longitudinal, cohort study named The Bogalusa Study,
David et al. (2005) measured BMI-for-age and triceps skinfold thickness (SF) in children
aged 2-17 years old. They were followed up about 18 years later. David et al. discovered
childhood levels of both BMI-for-age and triceps SF were significantly associated with
adult levels of BMI and mean SF (pg. 2). They also found 2-5 year olds who were
obese were 4 times as likely to be obese as adults (pg.1). By using different strategies to
prevent obesity in children, children may have a lower chance of becoming obese as an
adult.
Parents should teach their children nutrition education, using different techniques
to encourage physical activity and to not only provide nutritious foods, but also find
innovative ways to inspire kids to eat healthy in order to lower the chance of obesity in
children and in their adulthood. These strategies include parents taking their children to
the grocery store and allowing them to help prepare family meals, providing them with
nutritional activities, supporting them in physical activities and being active as a family
and discouraging sedentary behavior. Obesity affects a childs self-esteem, their bones
and joints, they may have high cholesterol and blood pressure as well as an increase risk

for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a preventable disease and with
the help from parents, they can not only help lower the number of obese children in the
United States, but can also give a child a healthy life and a better future.

Reference List
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