Why Bother?
Why "Good for Kids"?
You've probably seen it on TV or read about it already. Overweight and obesity is now a worldwide epidemic. Australia and our region are no exceptions - we have one of the highest rates of overweight and obesity in the developed world.
Here are the facts….
- More than one quarter of kids in our region are now overweight or obese. That figure is growing each year and has already reached 30 percent in some age groups.
- Unless we take action to prevent it 2,600 more kids will become overweight or obese each year.
- From 1985 to 1997 the percentage of overweight and obese children in Australia doubled, while the percentage of obese children tripled.
- Around 80% of overweight children will become overweight adults.
The problem often develops over time, and once established in kids can be difficult to treat. That’s why preventing our kids from becoming overweight is what’s good for kids and good for life.
What causes childhood obesity?
There are many causes. The principle behind maintaining a healthy weight is to balance the energy that you put into your body (as food) with the energy that you burn up (as physical activity).
Many factors make it difficult for people to maintain this balance between food and physical activity, including the environment in which we live.
Although we are all trying to do the best we can for our kids overweight and obesity is also related to technological, social, economic and environmental changes that can be outside our control.
Unhealthy food marketing is an example of an environmental factor that is thought to contribute to our “obesogenic” or obesity-promoting environment. Other changes have reduced our opportunities to be physically active and have increased our access to unhealthy foods.
Increased TV watching and playing video games, more use of the car, decreases in physical activity, and an increase in the consumption of high fat and high energy foods are some of the main causes of the childhood obesity problem.
What are the consequenses of being overweight and obese?
For kids now…
They are more likely to develop:
- gastrointestinal problems
- endocrine problems
- orthopaedic problems
- low self-esteem and experience depression.
The most immediate consequence of overweight as perceived by the kids themselves is being teased or isolated social discrimination.
For kids later on…
They are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease
- They are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease
- Around 80% of overweight children will become overweight adults.
It is pretty clear that there are lots of benefits to be gained by everyone through maintaining a healthy weight throughout life.
How do I know what is a
healthy weight?
Doctors and other health care professionals are the best people to determine whether a child or adolescent's weight is healthy, and they can assist in ruling-out rare medical conditions as the cause of unhealthy weight.
A Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated from measurements of height and weight. A child is seen to be obese if his/her BMI exceeds the cut-off point for his/her age. Growth charts, such as weight-for-age and weight-for-height, are also used to determine if children are overweight or obese.
Doctors and other health professionals also consider a child's age and growth patterns to determine whether his or her weight is healthy.
Use the Child/Youth BMI Calculator to work out your Body Mass Index.