The relationship between weight and health is not always linear. In one body, a heavier weight may be perfectly healthy. In another body, being slender may carry significant health risks. It all very much depends on your own individual body and your overall wellness. And that’s certainly true in children. At the same time, childhood obesity has been linked to increased risks for a wide variety of acute and lifelong ailments. This makes managing childhood obesity a source of significant anxiety for parents–and a priority for pediatricians.
If you have concerns about your child’s nutrition or about the possibility of childhood obesity, your pediatrician can help! During regular wellness exams, your child’s pediatrician will help guide you and your family towards a healthier lifestyle. Likewise, there are things you can do as a parent to encourage good health and nutrition in your kids.
How is Childhood Obesity Diagnosed?
Childhood obesity is typically diagnosed using your child’s Body Mass Index (or BMI). A BMI is calculated using a ratio between one’s height and weight–whether you’re a juvenile or an adult. Once BMI is calculated, your pediatrician will be able to compare your child to the general population. This is accomplished using a tool called a percentile.
If your child is in the 85th BMI percentile, for example, it means that your child’s BMI is more than 85% of other children of the same sex and age. Those children who are between the 85-95th percentile (that is, their BMI is higher than 85-95% of other children) are considered overweight. Those between the 95-99th percentile are considered to have obesity. And those in the 99th percentile and over are considered to have severe obesity.
It should be noted, however, that BMI is a very simple measurement. It lacks nuance. BMI does not take into account muscle mass or bone density or possible upcoming growth spurts. As a result, your pediatrician may take other factors into account when making a diagnosis.
Is Childhood Obesity a Problem?
Obesity in children does not automatically convey health problems. However, it will raise your child’s risk of developing certain conditions–both when they are children and when they are adults. An increased risk will not necessarily always translate into real health issues–but those health problems do become more likely over time.
As a result, successfully managing childhood obesity can help minimize many of these risks. Typically, childhood obesity has been linked to an increased risk of the following ailments:
Asthma and associated complications.
Sleep apnea, a respiratory disorder that can interrupt and disturb your child’s sleep.
Type-2 diabetes, which can cause its own set of serious health issues and which must be managed carefully.
Heart health and cardiovascular issues, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Bone and joint issues.
If possible, it’s important to manage obesity in childhood, as many of these risks increase as kids grow into adults. Obesity in adults is also associated with increased risk of mental illness (such as depression and anxiety), stroke, diabetes, and premature death.
Does This Mean My Child Needs to Lose Weight?
Knowing these risks, you might understandably wonder whether this means a high BMI will automatically mean that your child needs to lose weight. And the answer is… not necessarily. There are many factors that need to be considered in any wellness plan.
As a result, your child’s pediatrician may consider:
Your child’s overall health.
How quickly your child is growing. Some children will outgrow childhood obesity. (Of course, outgrowing childhood obesity is more likely to be successful if your family is encouraging and practicing healthy eating habits.)
Your child’s family history. (For example, if the child’s parents also have a problem with obesity-related health issues, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, a diagnosis becomes more likely.)
Your child’s pediatrician will also consider the child’s age and the stress that a treatment plan may incur. These days, pediatricians know that treating childhood obesity aggressively is important–but this does not (and should not) always boil down to simply helping your child lose weight.
Can Childhood Obesity Be Avoided?
Childhood obesity is caused by a complex mixture of lifestyle, genetics, and habits (not to mention socio economic incentives). In other words, it’s not always easy to avoid or predict. But there are some things that parents can do to help their children be healthier and (in many cases) prevent or mitigate childhood obesity. Among the most common are the following:
Encourage healthy eating: Children should be eating fruits and vegetables in large quantities (just like the rest of us). Unfortunately, children can also be very picky eaters (just like the rest of us). This means it’s critical to encourage children to eat fruits and vegetables. Have the fruits and vegetables they like in constant supply. And always invite them to try new ones (it’s usually wise to avoid turning this invitation into a demand, as you can alienate your child from fruits and vegetables in the process).
Encourage activity: Most kids need at least an hour of activity a day. They’re growing, and they have a lot of energy in their batteries–and so it’s a good idea to encourage your child to move every day. This activity does not have to be vigorous, necessarily. It’s better to get an hour of walking than an hour of sitting, for example. And it’s important to talk about “activity” rather than “exercise.” (To many, “exercise” seems like a burden–where “activity” is much more open-ended.)
Encouraging a healthy lifestyle may not be able to prevent childhood obesity in every case. But it can help your child live a more healthy life no matter what their weight may be. In other words, building these habits can help give your child vital tools to stay healthy at any age.
If You Think Your Child is Overweight, What Should You Do?
If you’ve noticed that your child is inactive or eating poorly, there are several changes you can make to help. And if you suspect your child is experiencing obesity, it’s not a bad idea to make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician. Sometimes, getting an objective viewpoint can help both parents and children better contextualize issues around body weight.
There are also some things you can do around the home to create a healthier environment for your child. This could include:
Model those healthy eating habits: If you’re eating french fries but encouraging your child to stick to green beans, that’s not going to work. To help your child be healthy and eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible, you have to do it first–and your kids have to see you enjoying your healthy eating! You can also try to avoid foods that are high in sodium and saturated fats. Avoid beverages that are packed with sugar, opting for water or 100% fruit juice instead. But again, you have to model these behaviors–and give your child solid footsteps to follow in.
Limit your child’s screen time–but replace it with something: Limiting your child’s screen time will definitely be good for your kid’s health! But they may need some help figuring out what to do with that time. This is a great opportunity to get out and move as a family. Go for a hike together. If you can be active with your child, it will go a long way towards building great life-long habits.
Ensure your child is getting enough sleep: Interruptions to sleep can often result in weight gain. Make sure your child is getting a sufficient amount of sleep (this can be upwards of 11-13 hours per day for preschoolers). Sufficient sleep can help ensure your child’s body has plenty of time to properly de-stress and run smoothly.
Enroll your child in activities: If you’re having some trouble getting your child to be active, you can always enroll them in fun activities (like a local basketball club or even a board game club). Choose activities that your child demonstrates enthusiasm towards. Being around other kids and in an active environment will be exceptionally beneficial for your child.
After a Childhood Obesity Diagnosis, Here’s What You Can Do
During your child’s wellness visit, your pediatrician may diagnose your child with childhood obesity. If this is the case, you and your child’s pediatrician will develop a treatment plan unique to your child. As a parent, there are some things you can do to help encourage wellness at this stage:
If you don’t already, eat dinner together as a family: This can provide a better setting for the consumption of the biggest meal of the day. When your child is distracted by video games or television, they tend to eat faster–and pay less attention to how much they’ve eaten. This can very easily lead to overeating.
Serve smaller portions: Paying attention to the portions you serve can encourage your child to eat smaller amounts and still feel satisfied.
Avoid processed foods: This is especially important for parents, as they’re the ones that do all the grocery shopping. Fill your home with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables–especially the ones that your child likes!
Your treatment plan may also include medications, especially if they’re designed to treat an underlying condition that is contributing to your child’s obesity (for example, sleep apnea that’s interrupting your child’s sleep or asthma that’s making you child hesitate to be active).
Childhood Obesity Doesn’t Have to Mean a Lifetime of Being Unhealthy
Whether your child continues to experience obesity or not, you can still provide them with a lifetime of tools, tips, and techniques that will encourage them to be healthy. There are some things you can do to prevent childhood obesity–but sometimes it will happen despite your best efforts. The best you can do is help your child be as healthy as possible.
This could mean encouraging your child to eat well, be active, and avoid excessive screen time. That’s pretty good advice for all of us–maybe it’s time to start modeling some healthy behaviors!
If you have questions or concerns about childhood obesity, contact Children’s Healthcare Associates at our Chicago or Northbrook offices to schedule an appointment today!