According to the American Dietetic Association, the number of children who were overweight more than tripled in the 6- to 11-year-old age group from 1988 to 2008. Children can avoid obesity by establishing healthy nutrition and fitness routines early in life.
Classification
Body Mass Index (BMI) for age is used to define overweight and obesity. A BMI percentile greater than 95 percent is defined as obesity, and a BMI between 85 and 95 percent is defined as overweight.
Risks
Obese children are more likely to become obese adults. They are also at increased risk for developing chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and sleep apnea.
Beverage Consumption
Between 1977 and 1998, soft drink consumption in children ages 6 to 17 increased by 48 percent, according to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Sugared drink consumption is linked to excessive caloric consumption and weight gain in children.
Diet
For children aged 4 to 13, 80 to 90 percent do not meet the food pyramid recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption, according to the American Dietetic Association. Children need to reduce high-fat snacks and increase fruit and vegetable intake.
Activity
According to the Centers for Disease Control, less than half of children meet the recommendation for 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Television, video games, and computers have attributed to decreased physical activity among children.
Member Comments