Forum: Too many kids
sedentary
Thursday,
August 18, 2005
By Jamie Lampros
Standard-Examiner correspondent
SALT
LAKE CITY -- In the average Utah classroom at least seven of the children would
be considered overweight, according to a comprehensive report released by the
Utah Department of Health.
The
report found that one in four Utah children are significantly overweight. The
number of overweight children in the state increased dramatically from 1993 to
2002, putting children right on par with the rest of the nation.
"The
number of overweight boys in the third grade increased by 119 percent,"
said Dr. David N. Sundwall, executive director of UDOH. "The number of
overweight third-grade girls increased by 40 percent."
If
this trend continues, the department of health estimates one-third of all
third-grade boys in Utah could be overweight five years from now.
During
a Utah Childhood Obesity Forum at the Delta Center, "Tipping the Scales
Toward Healthier Children," Sundwall said part of the problem is a
sedentary lifestyle.
The
problem is not just found in elementary students. Approximately 36,500 public
high school students were also found to be overweight or at risk. The numbers
continue to climb each year.
In
1999, 5.4 percent of high school students were overweight, which increased to
7.0 percent in 2003. Boys were more likely than girls to be overweight,
according to the report.
"Children
who are overweight have a higher risk of becoming even more overweight as
adults," said Dr. William Dietz, director, division of nutrition and
physical activity at the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"These
same children also have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and
cholesterol, certain types of cancer and heart disease. We are beginning to see
Type II Diabetes in children and that's a big, big concern."
Dietz
said children who are obese at age 15 are at risk of becoming kidney dialysis
patients by the time they are 30.
Children
are eating more and exercising less, Dietz said.
"Kids
are spending an enormous amount of time in front of the television and TV
viewing is directly related to the severity of obesity," he added.
"When
families sit down to eat, the TV should be off and televisions should not be in
any child's room. Twenty-five percent of 2-year-olds have a TV in their
room."
Dietz
said just telling children they need to be active and eat more nutritional food
isn't the answer.
"It's
going to take schools, communities, industries, media and families working
together to combat this problem," Dietz said.
The
average daily caloric intake of children increased from 1,900 calories per day
in 1977 to 1,964 in 1996. The additional 64 calories per day can result in an
additional 6.7 pounds per year.
A
Utah survey conducted in 2002 showed that vending machines were found in most
schools, with high schools having an average of 12 machines. The survey also
confirmed that school vending machines were filled with less nutritious items.
For every healthy choice, there were 14 unhealthy choices. For every milk
choice available to students, there were 45 soda choices.
"We
do not have vending machines in our elementary schools," said Debbie
Hefner, child nutrition program director for Ogden City School District.
"Any vending machines that are in our middle schools and high schools are
required to be turned off during lunch. We also have water vending
machines."
Hefner
said the school district is also concerned about the increase in childhood
obesity and is working diligently to help students make healthier food choices.
"Less
than 30 percent of our calories in our meals come from fat and less than 10
percent come from saturated fat," Hefner said. "We have fruit and
vegetable bars available and we have put baked chips in our vending machines.
We are committed to serving the healthiest meals to our students, not only for
their health but because for some, this may be the only decent meal they get
all day."
Dr.
Margaret Braae, of Primary Children's Medical Center, said the media also needs
to take more responsibility when it comes to nutrition.
"It's
alarming when you can buy a 10 ounce bag of chips for 99 cents but a bag of
apples costs $2, $3 or $4," she said. "And why can't Brittney Spears
advertise for broccoli?"
The
report also found that Utah children as well as children across the country are
exercising less.
"Kids
who aren't physically active don't do as well academically," said Lori
Wangsgard, community health educator for the Weber-Morgan Health Department.
"We are hoping that the schools will put more emphasis on the importance
of exercise as well as the importance of good nutrition."
Wangsgard
is also in charge of Gold Medal Schools, a voluntary program that teaches
children about good health.
"I
think we're just scratching the surface of this problem," Wangsgard said.
"The forecast is very bleak unless we do something major."