We Must Get a Grip on Child Obesity: Parents, Schools, Agencies ...

Nearly one in three schoolchildren in Tennessee is obese.

Maybe you?ve heard that statistic before; even so, take a moment to consider the implications. With roughly 1.5 million school-age children in this state, that means nearly a half-million are on track to experience problems associated with obesity: diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, even heart disease and cancer.

Even those who survive their bouts with such diseases face a lifetime of health complications, multiple doctor visits and use of prescription drugs and therapies to manage their conditions. As grownups, their career options and ability to enjoy things such as sports and travel vacations will be limited.

It doesn?t have to be that way, however. Most obese children can reach a healthy weight if they begin to get a balanced, nutritious diet, save sugary treats for special occasions, and get regular exercise.

We know the goals; now we must find out how to get there. Unlike adults who struggle with obesity, kids don?t control their food sources. Depending on where they live, they may have few options for exercise. So, while the message about child obesity must first hit home with parents, there is a role for government to play.

Many people hate to hear that, but it?s true, because the world has changed. Many Tennessee kids live in single-parent households or have two parents working multiple jobs, where cooked family meals rarely occur. Many live in low-income neighborhoods ? rural as well as urban ? with a single grocery that stocks primarily processed foods because they have a long shelf life, and a number of fast-food restaurants. In neighborhoods where crime is high and patrols are low, kids are less likely to go out and play.

So be glad when Gov. Bill Haslam announces that the state is working on ways to lower child obesity. His Health and Wellness Task Force plans to build on the work of groups including the Tennessee Obesity Task Force, the YMCA and the Metro Public Health Department.

And be glad that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun requiring public-school cafeterias nationwide to cut sodium, use more whole grains, and serve low-fat milk.

Not all government-centered solutions are a good idea. A tax on soft drinks that contain sugar, for example, would be unlikely to make a dent in kids? consumption and would unfairly hit low-income people the hardest.

But where government agencies can help is to bring healthier food choices to cafeterias and school vending machines; fund improvements in public playgrounds and ballfields and make them safer; and support public-service programs and ads that teach children and their parents about the necessity of healthy food and physical fitness.

There are other ideas about how to beat child obesity, and projects including?The Tennessean?s Brainstorm Nashville are looking for fresh, workable ideas. With a half-million children?s well-being at stake, it will take parents, schools, public and private agencies and the kids themselves to listen, learn about the challenges, and make lifestyle changes to break the cycle.

The children will feel better, learn and grow at a healthier pace, and their prospects for adulthood improve exponentially.

Source: The Tennessean - http://goo.gl/RAsMV

Source: http://www.childup.com/blog/we-must-get-a-grip-on-child-obesity-parents-schools-agencies-need-to-work-together

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