Childhood Obesity Facts

by Dr Arya Sharma

With all the talk about increasing obesity, we need to carefully look at the childhood obesity facts. Yes, kids are getting heavier; yes, kids are more sedentary; yes, kids are eating and drinking more high-calorie "junk" - all of this is correct.

But there are other childhood obesity facts that are less talked about.

Family size is one of them - people just don't have large families with 5 -7 (or more kids) anymore. Large families meant more running around (both inside and outside), more planned meals, less hiding in your room with your favorite screen device (TV, computer, X-box, etc.). And yes, larger families also meant that you likely had an older sibling to look after the younger siblings thus making it safer for them to be outside.

Childhood Obesity Facts

Another childhood obesity fact is that kids are not sleeping enough - many studies now support the link between too little sleep and obesity. This is because not enough sleep affects chemicals in your brain that can promote a desire for sweet and fatty foods as well as promote deposition of these extra calories to fat tissue.

Other childhood obesity facts may be more controversial: for example the contribution of "fun-foods". While these foods may promote the idea that food is play or entertainment rather than a source of nutrients, it is now clear how much these foods actually contribute to childhood obesity.

On the other hand, a well-established childhood obesity fact is that promoting unhealthy foods to kids by advertising, use of comic figures, etc. is a huge concern. No wonder that legislators are seriously looking at this issue - despite vehement opposition from the food industry.

A most interesting new fact on childhood obesity has nothing to do with kids at all - this is the increasing recognition that programming for obesity may actually be happening in the womb with excessive pre-pregnancy or pregnancy-induced weight gain. So the best target to prevent childhood obesity may be to target mothers rather than the kids. Now that may be an interesting new childhood obesity fact to consider.