The Battle Against Childhood Obesity 
by Kelly Rasmus
Because of advances in nutrition, healthcare and technology, the past few generations of Americans have easily outlived their parents. But if your child is between the ages of 5 and 20 today, that may not be the case. Today’s American children might just be members of the first generation in over a century whose life expectancy is shorter than that of their parents. The explanation for this sobering fact is our nation’s epidemic of childhood obesity.
A national public health crisis, obesity is spreading like an infectious disease. Childhood obesity has tripled over the past twenty years and, if it continues at its current rate, researchers expect that obesity will surpass tobacco as the leading cause of premature and preventable death by the year 2020. According to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost nine million children in our country are overweight, and children in southern states have the highest risks of obesity in the country.
While the national average of obese children between the ages of 12 and 14 in America is 14.4 percent, the average is 17.2 percent in Louisiana. This figure is so disturbing that our local community has taken notice and is fighting back. Just this spring, members of the Junior League of Greater Covington held its first annual “Stomp Out Childhood Obesity Fun Run.” More than 500 people of all ages filled Fontainebleau State Park to participate in a race to promote awareness of the obesity epidemic. It was such a success that the League has already scheduled the next race for March 7, 2009.
Awareness is just the first step in helping to quell the problem. Parents must arm themselves with the facts and be proactive in their defense against childhood obesity. Carrie Gardache, MPH, LDN, RD, food service director at Lakeview Regional Medical Center, is working to do just that. In her job, she oversees meals for patients, visitors and physicians, with a focus on providing healthy, nutritious meals (with nutrition education, when available) to all customers in our community. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 17 months old, she is passionate about her job, especially when it involves guiding children toward proper nutrition. “That is why I became a dietitian,” she says.
Gardache provided her expertise on the subject to develop “Create Your Weight,” a pediatric program designed by dietitians that are ADA-certified in pediatric and adolescent weight management. After all of her studies, she says that one of the top obstacles to kids eating healthy in our society is truly the most obvious: their propensity to reach for junk food when they are hungry. “Incorporating fruits and vegetables into daily intake is key,” she notes.
Easier said than done? Not so fast. Gardache offers easy ways to sneak in healthy fare. “I love pizza and burgers and think they are tasty and so do my children. When eating these food items, incorporate a healthy side dish so you are eating a healthy, balanced meal. For example, eat a slice of pizza with a salad, an apple and low-fat milk. By doing this, you will receive needed vitamins. Instead of fries with your burger, try carrot sticks and grapes. Fruits and vegetables are lower in calories and they fill you up.”
When kids are out of school and around the house more, Gardache advises parents to keep healthy snacks available. “I keep carrot sticks in zip-lock bags. I also like the small boxes of raisins. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be eaten anytime and anywhere. At the grocery store, you can even buy cantaloupe and honeydew melons cut up and ready to eat.” And when the temperature rises during the summer months, she suggests snacks like Jell-O and low-fat yogurt. “Those are yummy and refreshing.”
Gardache stresses that one of the most influential things a parent can do to encourage healthy eating is to take the time to sit down and eat as a family. This not only allows the body to absorb and digest food properly but also sets a clear example to children that proper nutrition is important. “If parents are grabbing a doughnut with a cup of coffee in the morning, they cannot expect their children to eat corn flakes and a banana for breakfast.”
Jeannette Rousseau, LDN, RD, CDE, who is also specially certified in adolescent weight management, couldn’t agree more. She offers a multitude of options for low-fat, tasty snacks, such as popsicles, fresh-fruit smoothies, popcorn, apples with peanut butter, and granola. As a certified diabetes educator at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Rousseau is quick to point out the devastating negative health issues that can result from children being obese: hypertension, elevated cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, stroke, heart disease, Type II diabetes. “Not to mention the fact that obesity can affect a child’s physical as well as emotional development,” she says.
It’s important to look at family history when determining if your child needs help. While a child is officially considered at risk if their growth exceeds the 85th percentile on the CDC’s chart of national averages, don’t dismiss a very young child as simply having “baby fat” if they fall just below this level. “Take a look at the child’s family history and if there is a predisposition to obesity, take action accordingly,” she stresses.
Rousseau acknowledges that parents are living in a complex world where everyday life doesn’t always make good choices the easiest choices. “We don’t cook much at home anymore. We eat fast food and we eat out more than in decades past. Our portion sizes are bigger. Our kids’ recess and P.E. time is slowly disappearing at school, and their lives are becoming more sedentary. We’re afraid to let our kids ride their bikes around the neighborhood because of safety concerns. The media entices kids constantly to eat unhealthy foods. Families are definitely pressed.”
For all these reasons, Rousseau believes the first step is to assess the family dynamics and have members take ownership of their particular situation. “It needs to be a multidisciplinary approach,” she notes. A healthy lifestyle is as much about diet and exercise as it is mindset and commitment—of the whole family. “Talk to your kids about health. Instead of it being a burden, make it an adventure. Dance with your kids. Play with your kids. Lead the way and be a good role model.”
