Weight Loss Programs For Children In North Dallas, Texas

Childhood obesity rates in Texas are higher than those reported for the nation. The American Obesity Society lists Dallas as one of the "Top 10 Overweight Cities" in the United States and, according to statistics from the U.S. Health and Human Resources Department, 36 percent of Dallas children and teens are overweight or at risk for it. This is higher than the national statistic of 30 percent of children and teens.

History

In 2006, a 13-year-old student in Dallas was running laps around his school gym. The physical education teacher was pushing the student to run the sprints in 20 seconds. At 5-feet 7-inches and weighing 240 pounds, the boy struggled to complete the drill. Suddenly, he collapsed and died. His parents questioned the judgment of the teacher. However, "The Baylor Lariat" ran an editorial saying, "it is inexcusable to point blame at the school." The editorial warned Dallas parents that "parents must take responsibility for their children's body weight and health problems associated with obesity."

Significance

Perhaps because of this incident and the alarming statistics concerning obesity in Dallas children, the city is taking action. The Viva la Familiar Project at Baylor College of Medicine is a five-year study to find out how and why local children are overweight. Local and state governments also are sponsoring programs to help obese children in Dallas. Schools are serving nutritious meals and offering more physical fitness classes. There are mandatory school screenings for diabetes.

The Children's Medical Center in northwest Dallas is working with 14 families in a pilot program to provide counseling from social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists, doctors and nurses to help control their weight.

Considerations

The Cooper Institute in North Dallas is partnering with the Texas Department of Agriculture to develop a special program for children. Designed for students in grades three through five, the program includes an online survey that will provide information about the children's nutrition knowledge and behavior. It also will provide online education and information. The program will be tested in 14 schools across Texas in 2011.

In the meantime, Get You In Shape, northeast of Dallas, offers the Coppell Fitness Boot Camp for Kids. The four-week children's weight loss and fitness camp is for kids from ages six to 17. Sessions are held year-round. Children attend three one-hour fitness classes per week, with different exercise programs for different fitness levels. Parents are required to attend an orientation session with their children. Families receive weekly e-mails with exercise and diet tips, and each child charts his daily exercise, as well as food and water intake, on an accountability calendar.

Expert Insight

Nancy Butte, director of the Baylor College of Medicine project, says her team is trying to determine whether obesity is genetic or related to diet and exercise issues. Henry McGill, M.D., of the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, believes current childhood obesity is related to lifestyle choices. Since the epidemic of overweight children is less than 20 years old, McGill says, the causes cannot be genetic.

Effects

Dr. McGill treats teenagers whose high cholesterol levels put them in danger of having heart attacks. Robert Ferry, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas, works with children whose blood sugar levels are as high as those of adult diabetics.

If your child is critically overweight or obese, seek the advice of a doctor. Most physicians recommend weight-loss programs that combine parental involvement, healthy diet, exercise and behavior modification. Your doctor may recommend a weight-loss camp, but do not send your child to an old-fashioned "fat camp." Diet pills and surgical procedures such as stomach-stapling also are not for kids.