Food for Thought

Food for Thought

Causes of Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity rates were 3 times greater in 2010 than in the 1980’s as documented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (United Way 2016, Childhood Obesity: Helping Kids Be Healthy. Retrieved from http://www.unitedwayoc.org/changing-lives/health/childhood-obesity.) It is not difficult to determine if a child is obese by medical standards, but it is challenging to address the cause.

ABC News covered the obesity crisis in the US in 2010 (ABC NEWS. 2010, Obesity in America. Retrieved from Youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDbocZ438f0&feature=player_embedded) reporting that 7 % of American children are severely obese and a third of the population in the United States is medically obese. There are many factors to consider when addressing the question, “How did my child become obese?”.

• Fructose (high fructose corn syrup)
Since the introduction of this more cost efficient sugar in the 1970’s, childhood obesity rates have been on the rise. It is believed to process differently in our bodies and cause signals to sent to our brain that mimic hunger.
• Convenience/Cost 
Packaged or pre-cooked foods containing higher levels of sugar and fat are quicker to consume rather than fresh foods requiring preparation. Healthier foods cost $1.50 per day (per person) more than the most unhealthy foods, (Harvard University 2013, Eating Healthy vs Unhealthy. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/healthy-vs-unhealthy-diet-costs-1-50-more/).
• Lack of Awareness
Eating more than the suggested daily calorie intake or more than a serving size leads to unhealthy habits and snacking for no reason. When ABC asked the parent in the video if he/she knew how many calories were in her soda, she replied that she had never really thought about it before. They were also unaware of how many serving sizes were in the amount of food they were consuming at each meal.
• Inactivity
According to Mayo Clinic inactive lifestyles contribute greatly to obesity due to eating calories that are not being burned off as fuel. Increased amount of screen time has contributed to less physical activity in children as well as not having a safe play area in some neighborhoods.

Asking tough questions about the overall lifestyle of your family is a great starting point to begin to identify the cause. It is interesting that only one of the above mentioned causes is based on the ingredients in the food and the others are merely a choice. In most cases, aside from a genetic or medically diagnosed issue, obesity can be reversed by its cause; choices and awareness. The cost of eating healthier seems to outweigh the cost of suffering from obesity related illness. Families must be aware of portion sizes, foods that are higher in fat or sugar, and increase the level of activity in their day. Making healthy choices can be difficult, but children are not in control of what is in their kitchen as a food choice.