Sunday, June 22, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Childhood obesity effects far-reaching



By JOELLE BABULA
REVIEW-JOURNAL </B>
</B>Easy access to junk food. Gargantuan portion sizes. Little if any exercise.

These are among the reasons why twice as many American children are fat these days compared with 30 years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence of childhood obesity has doubled since the 1970s, with 13 percent of children and adolescents obese and an additional 15 percent considered overweight.

Statistics on childhood obesity in Nevada are scarce, but local pediatricians and schoolteachers say they are seeing more and more overweight children in their offices and classrooms. They observe that this tourist town's round-the-clock work shifts and lifestyle make it more challenging for parents to supervise outdoor play and meal times.

"Not a day goes by that I don't have at least a dozen overweight kids come in," said pediatrician Dr. Kenneth Misch.

The reasons behind the alarming increase in childhood obesity are quite simple: poor diet and a lack of daily exercise. The solutions, however, are more complex. Health officials say parents, schools and communities need to instill healthy eating and exercise habits in children. Parents ought to get off the couch and exercise, and schools should offer healthy food choices and adequate physical education. Communities also must ensure there are safe places for children to run and play.

Experts also say the implications of childhood obesity are far reaching, causing social and psychological problems as well as the early onset of diabetes, heart disease and numerous other health problems.

"Obesity is the most common chronic disease of childhood," said Dr. William Cochran, chairman of gastroenterology and nutrition for the American Academy of Pediatrics. "This generation of kids may actually be the first to have a shortened life-span as a result of obesity."

Pediatric specialists say children are eating more junk food because busy families, especially those where both parents work, often rely on foods that are quick and easy to prepare. The availability of cheap, calorie-dense products such as soda and many fast food meals makes it easy to quickly consume excessive calories.

"We have a food industry targeting parents with quick stuff like Lunchables, which are horrible in terms of calories and fat and salt," said Jillon Vander Wal, a clinical psychologist with expertise in the fields of obesity and eating disorders at Wayne State University in Detroit. "We actually see obese kids who are malnourished because they are growing up on Cheetos and other junk."

Portion sizes are another problem. Restaurant meal portions have grown over the past few decades because food has become so cheap and abundant. It's inexpensive and easy for restaurants to provide large meals, which attracts consumers, who equate a bigger portion with a better deal.

"You go out to a restaurant today and most desserts can feed four people," said pediatric dietitian at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Holly Brewer.

Twenty years ago, the average fast food cheeseburger had 333 calories, according to the CDC. Today, that cheeseburger contains nearly 600 calories. A portion of french fries used to weigh 2.4 ounces and contain 210 calories. Today, the average portion weighs nearly 7 ounces and has 610 calories. The typical spaghetti and meatball meal used to contain 500 calories. Now, restaurant patrons get approximately 1,025 calories from the dish.

Larger portion sizes plus a lack of daily exercise compounds the problem of childhood obesity, pediatric specialists say. Children don't run around outside as much as they used to because of safety concerns, nor do many of them get adequate exercise during the school day.

According to literature from the American Obesity Association, "today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in history." The association blames the inactivity on reductions in school physical education programs and the lack of safe and accessible recreation areas for children.

"Safety is a significant issue for many parents," Cochran said. "They don't want their kids to go out and play like they used to. They don't want their kids walking to school."

Las Vegas parent Kirk Ellico, agrees. He says his overweight daughters have limited play time outdoors for safety reasons. He doesn't allow them to venture far from the house, so they often get bored and come inside.

"This day and age you can't trust anyone when it comes to your children," he said. "I owned an auto shop on Las Vegas Boulevard for eight years. I know what kind of weirdos are out there."