By Lynn Roblin MSc. RD and Bev Callaghan BSc. RD
You’ve all heard the latest stats – about one-quarter of Canadian children are now overweight. Obesity rates among children and adults have increased substantially during the past 25 years, according to the most resent Canadian Community Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada.
The proportion of children aged two to five who were either overweight or obese remained virtually unchanged from 1978 to 2004. In contrast, the overweight/obesity rate of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years more than doubled from 14% to 29%, while obesity alone tripled from 3% to 9%.
Poor eating habits and inactivity are cited as the main culprits in the obesity epidemic. Many children today are not consuming enough fruit and vegetables or milk. Instead, kids are filling up on high fat, high salt and high sugar processed foods and snacks and consuming too many high calorie sweetened beverages, including fruit-type beverages, sports and energy drinks! Less than half of our kids are expending the energy required to maintain a healthy weight, and to develop healthy hearts, lungs, muscles, and bones.
Being overweight as a child is a major concern as it can lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Obesity can also increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease later in life.
Preventing unnecessary weight gain in children is key…
Instilling healthy eating and activity habits early in life is critical to promoting proper growth and development and a healthy weight. Children who eat more vegetables, fruit and dairy products and moderate amounts of fat have a reduced risk of adolescent obesity. Children who are active as preschoolers and who maintain their activity level throughout childhood and adolescence also are less likely to become overweight.
The ideal situation is for children to follow a healthy growth pattern throughout childhood and adolescence. This helps children feel good about themselves and reduces their risk of health problems. It also gives children a better chance of maintaining a healthy weight when they are older.
What if my child is underweight?
Being underweight is also a significant concern that can’t be overlooked. Children who fail to achieve proper growth may have particular eating concerns that should be assessed by their family physician.
5 Simple Solutions to help your child eat well and maintain a healthy weight:
1. Be a good role model for healthy eating – what you eat sets the example for what your children will eat!
2. Serve up healthy meals and snacks based on Canada’s Food Guide!
3. Set regular meal and snack times – children who eat at regular times won’t be over-hungry or overeat later in the day!
4. Eat together as a family as often as possible – children who eat with their family tend to eat healthier meals.
5. Be active with your child – turn off the TV and video games – walk to school or the babysitters, play outside in the yard or at the park – plan active outings.
If you are looking for fast and easy meals that your family will actually eat! Check out – Suppertime Survival – a cookbook and healthy eating guide by Lynn Roblin, MSc. RD and Bev Callaghan, BSc, RD available at www.suppertimesurvival.com. This book will help you get healthy meals on the table in record time. It’s also packed with important information to help you and your children attain and maintain a healthy weight.
To see if your child is growing properly check the resource – Is My Child Growing Well? You can find this on the Dietitians of Canada website at: http://www.dietitians.ca/news/downloads/Child_Growing_Well_english.pdf
Lynn Roblin and Bev Callaghan are Registered Dietitians and members of Dietitians of Canada and the College of Dietitians of Ontario. Like most working parents they are striving to help their families eat well and maintain healthy weights while keeping up with a fast paced lifestyle. Between them, Lynn and Bev have 7 children ages 11 to 19, who all need to be encouraged to keep active and find ways to eat better at home, at school and away from home.
1 Canadian Community Health Survey. The Daily, Wednesday July 6, 2005, Statistics Canada.