Hospitals offer tips to prevent childhood obesity

The United States is in the midst of a crisis, which continues to worsen.

Childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years for children who are six to 11 years old, according to the Kansas Health Institute, www.khi.org. For youth 12 to 19 years of age, obesity has doubled. Although attempts have been made to correct this problem, progress has been slow, the KHI said.

According to information obtained on the Mayo Clinic Web site, www.mayoclinic.com, childhood obesity is alarming because it is causing children to develop heath problems at an earlier age.

"Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start kids on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol," the Mayo Clinic site said.

The Mayo Clinic acknowledges that some childhood obesity is hereditary. However, it said that the majority of childhood obesity is caused from children eating too much and exercising too little.

"If children consume more calories than they expend through exercise and normal physical development, they gain weight. Far less common than lifestyle issues are genetic diseases that can predispose a child to obesity. These diseases, such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Bardet-Biedl syndrome, affect a very small proportion of children. In the general population, eating and exercise habits play a much larger role," the Web site said.

The Mayo Clinic offers parents life changing suggestions to help combat childhood obesity. Parents are encouraged to help their children eat healthier by cooking foods lower in fat, limiting foods high in sugar and limiting the number of times that they allow their family to eat fast food.

Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, www.childrensmercy.org, also encourages parents to avoid eating at fast food restaurants. When eating at one of these restaurants is a necessity, Children's Mercy recommends that each person eat only half of his or her meal, saving the rest for later. Another suggestion from Children's Mercy advises that each person order smaller portions of food. Lastly, parents should encourage their children to eat slowly. In addition, the Kansas City-area hospital offers parents advice about school lunches. Parents are encouraged to pack lunches that contain healthy whole grain breads or related items; low-fat lunch meats or tuna; thinly sliced vegetables; fresh fruit; low-fat flavored yogurt; snacks of pretzels or low-fat popcorn and a dessert of low-fat granola bars, vanilla wafers or graham crackers.

In addition to avoiding fast food and foods high in fats and sugar, parents are encouraged to increase their children's level of physical activity. Creating a healthier lifestyle should be a family challenge, according to the Mayo Clinic.

"Whether your child is at risk of becoming overweight or currently at a healthy weight, you can take proactive measures to get or keep things on the right track. Start setting a good example by making sure your own diet is consistent with maintaining healthy weight. Then, be active, and invite your child to join you," the Mayo Clinic information said.

If adapting healthier lifestyles does not help decrease a child's obesity problem, a visit to the child's doctor may be a necessity, the Mayo Clinic information said.