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Small steps begin path to health for obese children
The prevalence of childhood over weight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S. and other developed and developing countries, doubling in the past 20 years. According to representatives with Thomas E. Langley Medical Center, , 15.3 percent of 6to 11-year-olds and 15.5 percent of 12to 19-year-olds are at or above the 95th percentile for Body Mass Index on standard growth charts based on reference data from the 1970s, with even higher rates among subpopulations of minority and economically disadvantaged children. Recent data from the CDC also indi cate that children younger than five years, across all ethnic groups have had significant increases in the preva lence of overweight and obesity.

"As a group, American children and adolescents today are less physically active than were previous generations, and less active children are more like ly to be overweight and to have higher blood pressures, insulin levels, choles terol concentrations, and more abnor mal lipid profiles,"said board-certified, fellowship-trained pediatrician Rita Aoun,M.D.

Doctors and other healthcare profes sionals are the best people to deter mine whether your child or adoles cent's weight is healthy, and can help rule out rare medical problems as the cause of unhealthy weight.

A Body Mass Index (BMI) can be cal culated from measurements of height and weight.Health professionals often use a BMI "growth chart"to help them assess whether a child or adolescent is overweight.

A physician will also consider your child or adolescent's age and growth patterns to determine whether his or her weight is healthy.

Let your child know he or she is loved and appreciated whatever his or her weight.An overweight child proba bly knows better than anyone else that he or she has a weight problem. Over weight children need support, accep tance, and encouragement from their parents.

Be a good role model for your child. If your child sees you enjoying healthy foods and physical activity, he or she is more likely to do the same now and for the rest of his or her life. Follow the Dietary Guidelines for healthy eating www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines). Guide your family's choices rather than dictate foods.

Be physically active. It is recom mended that Americans accumulate at least 30 minutes (adults) or 60 min utes (children) of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Even greater amounts of physical activity may be necessary for the prevention of weight gain,for weight loss,or for sus taining weight loss.

Provide a safe environment for your children and their friends to play actively; encourage swimming, biking, skating, ball sports, and other fun activities.

Reduce the amount of time you and your family spend in sedentary activities,such as watching TV or play ing video games.Limit TV time to less than two hours a day. Any weight management program for children should be supervised by a physician.

For more information about raising happy,healthy children and teens,con tact Thomas E. Langley Medical Cen ter at 793-5900.