A little satire never hurt enjoy.

Childhood: Obesity and School Lunches
By RONI CARYN RABIN
Published: February 4, 2011, NYTimes

Researchers say they have identified another risk factor for childhood obesity: school lunch.

A study of more than 1,000 sixth graders in several schools in southeastern Michigan found that those who regularly had the school lunch were 29 percent more likely to be obese than those who brought lunch from home.

Spending two or more hours a day watching television or playing video games also increased the risk of obesity, but by only 19 percent.

Of the 142 obese children in the study for whom dietary information was known, almost half were school-lunch regulars, compared with only one-third of the 787 who were not obese.

“Most school lunches rely heavily on high-energy, low-nutrient-value food, because it’s cheaper,” said Dr. Kim A. Eagle, director of the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, and senior author of the paper, published in the December issue of American Heart Journal. In some schools where the study was done, lunch programs offered specials like “Tater Tot Day,” he said.

Help is on the way, though. Under a federal law passed in December, Department of Agriculture guidelines will limit the number of calories served at every school meal and require programs to offer a broad variety of fruits and vegetables — not just corn and potatoes.

Avoiding Childhood Obesity
These proven and simple tactics can help your child stay fit, not fat.

By Stacey Colino
from organicgardening.com

1. Teach by example.
A Prevention survey found that children whose parents keep in shape are much more likely to have healthy body weights themselves. “There’s nothing worse than telling a child what he needs to do and not doing it yourself,” says Elizabeth Ward, R.D., a Boston nutritional consultant and author of Healthy Foods, Healthy Kids (Adams Media, 2002). “Set a good example and get your nutritional house in order first.”

2. Don’t say “clean your plate.”
Young children instinctively know how much food they need. That instinct can disappear, however, when parents serve kids overly large portions or push them to eat more. A study at Penn State University in University Park illustrated this: When three-year-olds were served a larger-than-normal serving of macaroni and cheese, they ate only until their hunger was satisfied; five-year-olds, on the other hand, chowed down to excess. Encourage kids to eat enough to satisfy their appetites and stop before they’re truly full.

3. Play with your kids.
Parents who regularly exercise with their children reduce their risk of becoming overweight. “Kids really mimic what their parents do—and that includes physical activity,” says Reginald Washington, M.D., chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ task force on obesity. “Engage children in activities with you, such as taking walks or riding bikes together.” In the Prevention survey, 76 percent of kids said they actually like to exercise with their parents, and those who did were less apt to experiment with tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Gardening with your kids is a great way for all of you to burn calories.

4. Revive the family dinner.
Children whose families usually sit down to a home-cooked meal at the table are less likely to be fat than those who eat out or bring food in, according to the Prevention survey. And it’s no wonder: Research has found that kids who regularly eat dinner with their families consume more fruits and vegetables and less soda and fat. Plus, many children who are overweight tend to eat rapidly: “By engaging kids in conversation, you slow down the eating process, which gives kids a chance to register fullness,” says William Cochran, M.D, chairman of the AAP’s section on gastroenterology and nutrition. “I tell my overweight patients to have a bite, put down the fork, and talk to Mom or Dad about something that happened that day before having another bite.”

5. Don’t use food as a reward.
This simply teaches kids to eat for comfort or to associate food with “being good”—a big mistake. If your child gets an A on her report card, don’t reward her with a trip to the ice cream shop; take her to the zoo or her favorite park instead.

6. Let kids serve themselves.
“If you force your child to eat nutritious foods, it can backfire,” says Barbara J. Rolls, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition at Penn State University. “Kids figure that if their parents have to force them to eat something, it must not be very good.” Serve a variety of foods and encourage kids to have a taste of everything. If they don’t like a particular food the first time, don’t give up: Research has found that often kids must taste a new food 10 or 11 times before they start to like it.

7. Limit screen time.
While TV has long been scorned for thwarting our kids’ physical activity, the number of other sedentary pastimes is growing: computer games, video games, the Internet. Every hour your child spends in front of a screen is time that he could be active. Either limit screen time to a maximum of two hours a day or instigate more physically active distractions to get kids up and moving.

8. Watch the calories in liquids.
Kids, especially teens, can chug juice or soda seemingly in a single gulp—and those calories quickly add up, says Nancy F. Krebs, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado. Instead of sugary drinks, offer them water and up to 24 ounces of nonfat or low-fat milk a day.

9. Recruit them to the breakfast club.
“Children who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight,” notes Wendy Wolfe, Ph.D., research associate at Cornell University’s Division of Nutritional Sciences. “Kids end up being hungrier and eating more later in the day.” Ideally, a kid’s morning meal should contain carbohydrates, protein, and a little fat: an egg with toast and fruit or 100 percent fruit juice; peanut butter on a bagel, and a banana; or a bowl of low-sugar cereal with nonfat milk and fruit.

10. Make every step count.
In the 1930s and ’40s, kids expended 800 calories a day just walking, carrying water, and doing other chores, notes Fima Lifshitz, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist in Santa Barbara. “Now, kids in obese families are expending only 200 calories a day in physical activity,” says Lifshitz. Incorporate more movement in your family’s life—park farther away from the stores at the mall, take stairs instead of the elevator, and walk to nearby friends’ houses instead of driving.

11. Exercise portion control.
Americans like to get their money’s worth, which is why many restaurants serve entrée portions large enough for three. Indeed, a recent study at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that the reason French people can eat rich food and remain slim may be that restaurant and packaged food portions are generally 25 percent and sometimes as much as 72 percent smaller than those in the United States.

12. Ask your pediatrician to calculate your child’s BMI.
The AAP recently began recommending that pediatricians screen their patients for obesity—by tracking their body mass index, an approximate measure of body fat—at routine checkups. “It’s helpful to see it plotted on growth charts and tracked over time to see if it is going up too rapidly,” Krebs explains.

13. Rally behind phys ed.
Public schools have become increasingly sedentary environments as physical-education programs have been slashed in favor of academic subjects. From 1991 to 2001, the number of U.S. schools offering daily PE classes declined from 42 percent to 32 percent. “Support PE through parent-teacher programs,” says Robert McMurray, Ph.D., professor of exercise and sports science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And push for more activity in the classes themselves: McMurray found that kids were active, on average, only six to 10 minutes during a 45-minute PE class.

14. Clean up your kid’s cafeteria.
Many cash-strapped schools have opened their doors to vending machines and fast-food service, using the profits to finance extracurricular programs. But some parents have taken a stand against this trend: In Montgomery County, Maryland, parents outlawed doughnuts from area middle schools, and in Los Angeles, the school board banned the sale of soda in school vending machines. First step? Contact a member of your school board and ask to get your ideas on the next agenda.

15. Lobby your local government for more recreational space. “Kids need greater access to parks and playgrounds,” McMurray says. If enough people band together, you increase your chances of convincing the planning commission to put these areas in place or require that a certain portion of new housing developments be designated for playgrounds or parks, or for biking and hiking trails.

This video is based out of Austin, so some of the information is area-specific, but the ideas of finding local outdoor activities like playgrounds and swimming pools to keep your kids active applies no matter where you are!

Childhood Obesity: Exercise: MyFoxAUSTIN.com

from choosemyplate.gov

Not everyone is aware of the fact that the classic Food Pyramid of Nutrition that many of us grew up with has been discarded. It is no longer an accurate measure of healthy ratios of food categories for our daily eating habits. Recently (in 2011), the USDA released this new updated Food Plate, which deemphasizes carbohydrates (previously the foundation of the Food Pyramid) and stresses the importance of vegetables.
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Dietary Guidelines

What is a “Healthy Diet”?

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans describe a healthy diet as one that:

• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products;
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

The recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines and in MyPlate are for the general public over 2 years of age. MyPlate is not a therapeutic diet for any specific health condition. Individuals with a chronic health condition should consult with a health care provider to determine what dietary pattern is appropriate for them.

MyPlate helps individuals use the Dietary Guidelines to:

• Make smart choices from every food group.
• Find balance between food and physical activity.
• Get the most nutrition out of calories.
• Stay within daily calorie needs.

Jun 26, 2011 | By Sharon Brunner
from livestrong.com

Childhood obesity is a result of excess calorie consumption combined with low levels of daily physical activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Your family history and genetics may play a role in your child’s risk for obesity early in life that can carry into adulthood. Negative lifestyle choices including poor eating and exercise behaviors learned in childhood can influence obesity risk, but preventive strategies can help combat obesity at all ages.

Genetics

The Centers for Disease Control reports that “energy-thrifty genetics” that once helped during times of famine may be the culprit related to increasing childhood obesity rates. These genes are being challenged in today’s cultures where food is plentiful and survival is not threatened. Researchers from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom summarized that family members, especially twins, can share common genes and single-gene disorders that contribute to fat accumulation and influence obesity.

Eating Behaviors

Parents may pass on learned eating behaviors to their kids that may promote obesity. Making sugary drinks and high-fat snack foods available at home can encourage your child to favor convenience foods over whole foods like fruits and vegetables. Allowing your child to eat while watching TV, using food as a reward or offering food to relieve boredom can result in excess calorie consumption that influences obesity, according to the Clemson Cooperative Extension.

Physical Activity

In an article published in the “American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine” in 2010, researchers discussed the positive influence adults have on encouraging children to be physically active. Children who have supportive relationships are able to perform activities they enjoy — and feel competent in participating in those activities — are more likely to sustain a physically active lifestyle into adulthood. Home, school and community environments that encourage various forms of physical activity can also help prevent childhood obesity.

Suggestions

Incorporate ways to make healthy eating and physical activity a regular part of family life to reduce your child’s risk for obesity. Allow your child to be a part of meal preparation like choosing and preparing healthy foods. Provide fruits and vegetables as snacks and replace sugary drinks with water. Limit desserts and high-calorie snack foods to infrequent occasions. Replace eating out for entertainment with recreational activities your child enjoys and can perform.

—from examiner.com—

Raising children in a healthy manner has become an enormous challenge largely due to the myriad of chemicals in various products which can harm them. Many families in Syracuse who have been alarmed by this matter should be interested in information from a new study which shows that phthalates in personal care products may contribute to child obesity.

Science Daily has reported “Chemical in Personal Care Products (Phthalates) May Contribute to Child Obesity.” It has been discovered by researchers from the Children’s Environmental Health Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York that there may be an association between exposure to the chemical group known as phthalates and obesity in young children. This research paper is available online in the journal Environmental Research.

Researchers at Mount Sinai measured phthalate concentrations in the urine of 387 black and Hispanic children in New York City, and recorded body measurements including BMI, height, and waist circumference one year later. The urine tests of these children revealed that greater than 97 percent of study participants had been exposed to phthalates which are typically found in personal care products such as perfume, lotions, and cosmetics; varnishes; and medication or nutritional supplement coatings.

These phthalates included monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and other low molecular-weight phthalates. The reseachers also found an association between concentrations of these phthalates with BMI and waist circumference among overweight children. For example it was found BMI in overweight girls with the highest exposure to MEP was 10 percent higher than those with the lowest MEP exposure.

The research lead author Susan Teitelbaum, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has said “Research has shown that exposure to these everyday chemicals may impair childhood neurodevelopment, but this is the first evidence demonstrating that they may contribute to childhood obesity.” This study also further emphasizes the importance of reducing exposure to these chemicals where possible.” Dr. Teitelbaum has offered important advice in regard to the findings of this research.

Raising children in a healthy manner has become an enormous challenge largely due to the myriad of chemicals in various products which can harm them. Many families in Syracuse who have been alarmed by this matter should be interested in information from a new study which shows that phthalates in personal care products may contribute to child obesity.

Science Daily has reported “Chemical in Personal Care Products (Phthalates) May Contribute to Child Obesity.” It has been discovered by researchers from the Children’s Environmental Health Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York that there may be an association between exposure to the chemical group known as phthalates and obesity in young children. This research paper is available online in the journal Environmental Research.

Phthalates are human-made, endocrine-disrupting chemicals which can mimic the body’s natural hormones. These chemicals are commonly used in plastic flooring and wall coverings, food processing materials, medical devices, and personal-care products. It is already well understood that poor nutrition and physical inactivity contribute to obesity. Now news research suggests that environmental chemicals, including phthalates, may also play a role in rising childhood obesity rates.

Researchers at Mount Sinai measured phthalate concentrations in the urine of 387 black and Hispanic children in New York City, and recorded body measurements including BMI, height, and waist circumference one year later. The urine tests of these children revealed that greater than 97 percent of study participants had been exposed to phthalates which are typically found in personal care products such as perfume, lotions, and cosmetics; varnishes; and medication or nutritional supplement coatings.

These phthalates included monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and other low molecular-weight phthalates. The reseachers also found an association between concentrations of these phthalates with BMI and waist circumference among overweight children. For example it was found BMI in overweight girls with the highest exposure to MEP was 10 percent higher than those with the lowest MEP exposure.

The research lead author Susan Teitelbaum, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has said “Research has shown that exposure to these everyday chemicals may impair childhood neurodevelopment, but this is the first evidence demonstrating that they may contribute to childhood obesity.” This study also further emphasizes the importance of reducing exposure to these chemicals where possible.” Dr. Teitelbaum has offered important advice in regard to the findings of this research.

This week I’d like to share another TED speech with you (for those readers unfamiliar with TED, it stands for Technology Entertainment and Design, and is a global set of conferences formed to disseminate “ideas worth spreading”. They address an increasingly wide range of topics within the research and practice of science and culture). This speaker in this event is named Birke Baehr, he is 11 years old, and he is passionate about spreading the word about the dangers of the industrial food system. Touching on the topics of genetically modified seeds, GMO corn making its way into a multitude of food products, to the energy costs of shipping mass-produced foods across thousands of miles, young Mr. Baehr is one voice in a large movement calling for a localized, organic food production as a way to combat increasingly unhealthy and unnatural food products, many of which are a major cause in rising rates of obesity, in children and adults alike.

“So the next time you’re at the grocery store, think local, choose organic, know your farmer, and know your food.”

If you’ve researched Childhood Obesity, you may be familiar with the name Jamie Oliver. An internationally known chef, Mr. Oliver champions the cause of preventing childhood obesity by advocating that parents and children improve their diet and exercise habits. The greatest enemy to our health is ignorance, the greatest ally is information.

from The Washington Post:

11/29/2011
Ohio mom loses custody of obese son: Using government intervention for a childhood epidemic
By Janice D’Arcy

An 8-year-old Cleveland boy has just become the poster-child for a sad new nadir in the childhood obesity epidemic. The third grader, who weighs more than 200 pounds, was removed from his mother’s custody because of what officials have deemed medical neglect.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

[The County] said that the child’s weight gain was caused by his environment and that the mother wasn’t following doctor’s orders — which she disputes.

“This child’s problem was so severe that we had to take custody,” [Mary Louise Madigan, a spokeswoman for the Department of Children and Family Services] said. The agency worked with the mother for more than a year before asking Juvenile Court for custody of the child, she said.

Lawyers for the mother, a substitute elementary school teacher who is also taking vocational school classes, think the county has overreached in this case by arguing that medical conditions the boy is at risk for — but doesn’t yet have — pose an imminent danger to his health.”

The case is part of a new trend in child expert circles regarding childhood obesity. Earlier this year, two Harvard-affiliated child obesity experts wrote an attention-getting commentary in the Journal of American Medical Association suggesting that parents should be held more accountable.

“In severe instances of childhood obesity, removal from the home may be justifiable, from a legal standpoint because of imminent health risks and the parents’ chronic failure to address medical problems,” Lindsey Murtagh and David Ludwig wrote.

Murtagh and Ludwig recognized that there are broader cultural and policy forces at play when it comes to the appalling state of childhood health in this country. There’s no need to provide the laundry lists here. We can all agree that American children’s freedom and activity have been curtailed significantly in recent decades and the overall quality of kids’ diets have plummeted.

There is plenty of blame to go around: For the planners who have created un-walkable communities, to the media scare-mongering that has us all terrified of abduction, to the litigious attitude that prevents adventurous play, to the junk food marketers, to the public policy juggernaut that allows foods like french fries to be served in lunch rooms.

That said, the obesity epidemic is an individual crisis as much as a nationwide one. It affects specific children, robbing them of youth and setting them up for a lifetime of health problems.

Railing against those larger forces won’t help this Cleveland boy. What’s the answer for him?

Government intervention can and should include support for parents. In the Cleveland case, officials had been offering some of that to the mother in the form of monitoring, advice and a hospital-based program. It was clearly not effective.

Removing a child from the custody of his parent or parents can cause its own lifelong problems as child expert Michaela L. Zajicek-Farber of Catholic University of America described in a previous post.

Childhood experts agree that it should be used as a last resort in cases of abuse and neglect.

When it comes to childhood obesity, should lack of adequate health oversight be considered severe neglect? If so, should custody be at stake?