Jodie Shield - Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight for Kids and Teens

EAT RIGHT PRESS

Published by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Diana Faulhaber, Publisher

Laura Pelehach, Acquisitions and Development Manager

Elizabeth Nishiura, Production Manager

Copyright 2012, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies and/or official positions of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Mention of product names in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the authors or the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics disclaims responsibility for the application of the information contained herein.

For more information on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, go to www.eatright.org

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EPUB ISBN 978-0-9837-255-6-5

MOBI ISBN 978-0-9837255-5-8

I would like to dedicate this book to my beautiful mother, Marilyn Ann Collins, July 19, 1937June 7, 2011, and to my healthy family (Jim, Michael, JJ, and Jennifer) and the summer of 2010keep the faith!

Jodie Shield, MEd, RD

Thanks to my family for their patience, support, and love. Thanks to all my co-workers at Rush University Medical Center, who work so hard to get the message to families to be healthy. Most importantly, thanks to Jodie for her determination to write this book. Your countless hours and dedication made this book become a reality.

Mary Mullen, MS, RD

The authors and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the peer reviewers for this book: Katie Brown, EdD, RD, Nancy Copperman, MS, RD, CDN, and Denise Sofka, MPH, RD.

Are you concerned about your childs weight? Youre not alone. All parents want their kids to be a healthy weight. However, as the media reminds us every day, we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic. Over the past twenty years, kids weights have skyrocketed. Generally speaking, children today weigh about 10 pounds more than kids did 30 years ago, and one out of three American kids is currently overweight or obese.

As parents, we love our children no matter what their size or shape they are not statistics! On the other hand, helping them achieve and maintain a healthy weight is more important than ever. Did you know the following facts?

• Being obese after the age of six is a strong predictor of adult obesity.
• Seventy percent of obese teens go on to become obese adults.
• Twenty-five percent of obese adults were overweight as children, and more severe obesity in adults is associated with having been overweight before age eight.

Being overweight is a risky business. In adults, overweight and obesity are linked to six of the 10 leading causes of illness and death in the United

States: heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, diabetes, and kidney diseases. Because overweight children have a greater probability of becoming obese adults, our kids could be headed for a future of health problems. In fact, for many kids, the future is now. Overweight and obese youths are beginning to experience weight-related health issues sooner rather than later. That is to say, kids are developing medical conditions that used to only affect adults. Here are a few you should know about:

• Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is associated with overweight and obesity, and it used to be rare in kids. Before 1994, the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and teens was less than 5 percent. Since that time, it has risen dramatically to between 30 and 50 percent. Early onset of type 2 diabetes puts kids at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol) and kidney disease.
• Hypertension: High blood pressure among kids is also on the rise. Approximately 13 percent of overweight or obese children have elevated systolic blood pressure (the upper number) and approximately 9 percent have elevated diastolic blood pressure (the lower number). Untreated, hypertension can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
• Hyperlipidemia: Hyperlipidemia, or high levels of fat in the blood, is one of the most common obesity-related medical conditions in children and teens. Overweight children (especially boys) are more likely to have elevated levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad type). This puts them at greater risk for serious heart disease.
• Early puberty: Obese children tend to begin puberty earlier than healthy weight children. This may predispose them to physical and psychological changes that they are intellectually not ready to handle. Also, kids who enter puberty early tend to not grow as tall as their peers who enter puberty at a later age.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Obese teenage girls are at increased risk for PCOS, an imbalance in a girls hormone levels that leads to irregular or missed periods.
• Sleep disorders: Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea occur in about 17 percent of obese children and teens. Sleep apnea is when people stop breathing for short periods of time while sleeping. It is a serious problem, and kids who have sleep apnea often perform poorly in school.
• Asthma: Asthma is a lung disease in which the airways become blocked or narrowed and results in breathing difficulty. Overweight children, particularly boys, seem to be at a greater risk of developing asthma, and being overweight seems to aggravate the symptoms in kids who already have asthma. Obese children with asthma tend to use more medicine, wheeze more, and visit the emergency room more often than their peers with asthma who are not obese.
• Orthopedic problems: Overweight and obese kids often develop orthopedic or bone abnormalities. These problems seem to be a direct result of carrying too much weight and overloading the growing skeletal frame, particularly in areas that involve the growth plates, such as knees, ankles, and hips.
• Psychosocial problems: Some of the most devastating problems that affect overweight and obese kids are psychological in nature. Their weight often interferes with their ability to relate to other family members and peers, and may lead to depression. They may find it challenging to play outside at recess, keep up with friends at the park, or wear the latest styles. Other kids at school may also tease them. Researchers have found that, compared to healthy weight peers, severely obese children and teens are about five times more likely to report having a lower quality of life. Overweight youth often have lower self-esteem and tend to feel lonely, sad, and nervous. They are also more likely to smoke and consume alcohol and may be socially isolated. Weight issues also can cause body dissatisfaction, which may place kids, particularly girls, at risk for eating disorders.

This list is not meant to scare you. However, it is important for parents to know the very serious health problems that some overweight and obese kids currently face.

If your child is trying to reach a healthy weight, this book is for you. (It can even help if your child is already a healthy weight.) Youll learn how your childs weight fits into the big picture. Youll gain tips for raising a healthy eater in a fattening world, and youll explore eight successful