CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Kathy Breslin

CHILDHOOD OBESITY Definition Facts Causes Effects Treatment Prevention

WHAT IS CHILDHOOD OBESITY?

‘Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height’ (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

FACTS ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY One in four Irish three year olds

overweight/obese (Growing Up in Ireland, 2011).

Majority of Irish children not getting recommended 60 minutes of physical activity daily (SafeFood.eu, 2014).

Worldwide, ‘42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2013 ’ (World Health Organization [sic], 2014).

FACTS ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY Billboards and television advertisements

about childhood obesity on the increase.

Irish television advert (YouTube.com, 2014).

Australian television advert (YouTube.com, 2014).

CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Food Choice: High fat and calorific meals can

increase the weight of a child. Unhealthy snacks between meals can contribute to the weight gain of the child (Better Health Channel, 2014).

According to the World Health Organization [sic] (2014), the primary ‘cause of childhood overweight and obesity is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended’. In order to maintain a healthy weight, one must burn the same amount of calories consumed daily.

CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Reduced physical activity: less children

are physically active. More and more children are not participating in physical activities such as football, cycling, swimming and dancing.

Increased sedentary lifestyle: more children spend time ‘playing with electronic devices…than actively playing outside’ (Kids Health, 2014). Modern technology is replacing physical activity in childhood.

CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY In rare occurrences, childhood obesity is

caused by genetics. Generally, ‘a medical cause for being overweight or obese is the exception in children’ (Patient.co.uk, 2014).

Large portion sizes, easily available high calorific foods and meals and a higher cost of healthy foods compared to high fat, sugary and processed foods are all factors leading to childhood obesity (Centers [sic] for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014).

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Overweight or obese children may have

‘health problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure’ (The Child Study Center [sic], 2014).

Type 2 diabetes ‘has increased dramatically in overweight children and adolescents’. Once a problem associated only with adults, it is now too prevalent among children. (The Child Study Center [sic], 2014).

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Overweight/obese girls may begin puberty earlier

than expected: ‘Being obese can create hormone imbalances’ in the child (Mayo Clinic, 2014). ‘These imbalances can cause puberty to start earlier than expected’ (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: This is ‘a serious, potentially life-threatening breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Over a long period of time, this can lead to heart failure’ (Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco, 2014).

Childhood obesity can lead to obesity in adulthood if the diet and sedentary lifestyle of the child does not change (Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco, 2014).

EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Low self-esteem in children: Children may bully

others because of their weight/size. This can result in low ‘self esteem’ and/or ‘depression’ in overweight or obese children (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

Society and the media bombard girls, in particular, with the pressure to be slim. This can result in girls ‘developing eating disordered behaviors [sic]’ such as extreme dieting and exercising (The Child Study Center [sic], 2014).

For boys, society and media emphasise the importance of ‘a muscular, ‘’buff’’ body’ which can lead to ‘disordered eating’ also (The Child Study Center [sic], 2014).

TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Increase in physical activity: Incorporate

more physical activity into the day, for example, swimming, running, dancing and cycling. Activities such as these throughout the day can help achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a child needs daily (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

Child participates in activities he/she likes: If children take part in activities they enjoy they are more likely to continue doing them (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Decrease/omission of sedentary lifestyle:

reduce time spent using the iPad, laptop and television. This time can be spent on physical activity.

Replace high calorific and sugary foods with healthy and nutritious meals (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012).

Portion size: Many parents give their children adult portion sizes. Reducing portion sizes given to overweight and obese children can help treat childhood obesity (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

HOW PRACTITIONERS CAN HELP TREAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THE WORKPLACE Ensure that children get physical activity, for

example, playing in the outdoor area – running, jumping, walking, cycling. Encourage the children to take part in outdoor games such as these. Children can be physically active indoors also, for example, dancing. Vary physical activities between the outdoors and indoors.

Facilitate and encourage the child to participate in physical activities he/she likes, for example, dancing or football. The child may be more likely to participate in activities he/she likes.

HOW PRACTITIONERS CAN HELP TREAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THE WORKPLACE Work as a team with the parent/guardian to

provide the child with nutritious and healthy meals in the early years setting.

Work together with the parent/guardian to increase the physical activity of the child.

Provide information and advice on how to treat childhood obesity to the parent/guardian.

In a friendly and open manner, emphasise to children the importance of healthy eating and exercise. Teach the importance of it in different ways using games, story books and props, for example, puppets.

PREVENTION OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Follow a plan to consume healthy and nutritious meals

only such as fruit, vegetables, ‘lean meats’ and ‘lots of water’ (Centers [sic] for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).

Portion size: ‘Children’s portion sizes should be smaller than those for adults’ (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012). Ensure that the portion sizes the child takes are appropriate for his/her age and height.

Limited time on modern technology: have a time limit on the use of ‘gadgets’ such as laptops and the television (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012).

Ensure that children get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity daily (World Health Organization [sic], 2014).

HOW PRACTITIONERS CAN HELP PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THE WORKPLACE Provide healthy meals: provide children

with healthy, nutritious meals and snacks within the early years setting.

Control portion size: ensure that children are given adequate portion sizes for their height and age.

Ensure that children are physically active both indoors and outdoors daily.

REFERENCE LIST Aboutourkids.org. (2014). Childhood Obesity: The Effects on

Physical and Mental Health, [online], available: http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/childhood_obesity_effects_physical_mental_health [accessed 01 November, 2014].

Anthony Kalamut. (2011). ‘Break the Habit’ – Childhood Obesity Ad Australia, [video online], available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82kYQ7j7X2s [accessed 31 October, 2014].

Better Health Channel. (2014). Obesity in children – causes, [online], available: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Obesity_in_children?open [accessed 31 October, 2014].

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Tips for Parents – Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight, [online], available: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/children/index.html#prevention [accessed 01 November, 2014].

REFERENCE LIST Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Overweight

and Obesity A Growing Problem, [online], available: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/problem.html [accessed 31 October, 2014].

Growingup.ie. (2011). Growing Up in Ireland Key Findings: Infant Cohort (at 3 years), [online], available: http://www.growingup.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Conference/2011/Growing_Up_in_Ireland_-_The_Health_of_3-Year-Olds.pdf [accessed 31 October, 2014].

KidsHealth.org. (2014). Causes of Overweight, [online], available: http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/overweight_obesity.html#a_Causes_of_Overweight [accessed 31 October, 2014].

Mayo Clinic. (2014). Diseases and Conditions Childhood obesity Complications, [online], available: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/basics/complications/con-20027428 [accessed 01 November, 2014].

REFERENCE LIST Mayo Clinic. (2014). Diseases and Conditions Childhood obesity

Definition, [online], available: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/basics/definition/con-20027428 [accessed 31 October, 2014].

Mayo Clinic. (2014). Diseases and Conditions Childhood obesity Treatments and drugs, [online], available: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/basics/treatment/con-20027428 [accessed 01 November, 2014].

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2012). How Are Overweight and Obesity Treated?, [online], available: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/obe/treatment.html [accessed 01 November, 2014].

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (2012). How Can Overweight and Obesity Be Prevented?, [online], available: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/obe/prevention.html [accessed 01 November, 2014].

REFERENCE LIST Patient.co.uk. (2014). Obesity and Overweight in Children,

[online], available: http://www.patient.co.uk/health/obesity-and-overweight-in-children [accessed 31 October, 2014].

SafeFood.eu. (2014). Physical Activity in Children, [online], available: http://safefood.eu/Childhood-Obesity/Facts.aspx [accessed 31 October, 2014].

SafeFoodTV. (2014). Let’s take on Childhood Obesity – TV Ad – Treats, [video online], available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pNqV7gq61M [accessed 31 October, 2014].

University of California San Francisco. (2014). Health Risks of Overweight Children, [online], http://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/education/health_risks_for_overweight_children/ [accessed 01 November, 2014].

REFERENCE LIST World Health Organization. (2014). Obesity and

overweight, [online], available: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/ [accessed 31 October, 2014].

World Health Organization. (2014). What can be done to fight the childhood obesity epidemic?, [online], available: http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood_what_can_be_done/en/ [accessed 01 November, 2014].

THANKS FOR LISTENING! Any questions?