SS Fitness

Childhood obesity 

Childhood obesity, which initially started as an epidemic concerning many American households, has now become a much larger issue, affecting over 22 million children under the age of 5.

Why is this happening? Is it the parents, the kids, the economy, culture, industrial changes, or social issues, or does it just boil down to genetics and some kids being predisposed to it?

Why is this pandemic happening, and what can we do to stop it? Is action required, or do we just trust that everything will fizzle out with time? 

It’s a challenging situation when it comes to childhood obesity. Kids are delicate, and we don’t want to damage their confidence or implement “solutions” that could lead to a variety of eating disorders in the future. However, at the same time, we don’t want to overlook the severe health complications that can come with obesity.

It is the parents’ and guardians’ job to teach the child how to eat and what to do. If you are a parent, you must ensure that your kids are healthy and safe. However, I also don’t want to put the blame entirely on the parent either. I am not a parent, but I know some of you are, and I know that there are so many good ones out there who sacrifice daily on behalf of your kids, giving them every piece of you and that you are not maliciously trying to hurt your child. You aren’t a bad parent because this one part of your life is challenging. A lot of it stems from improper education in our health and education systems.

Many overweight kids have overweight parents. Some of this boils down to genetic factors, but can be fixed. Your metabolic rate may be slower, and you may have a harder time losing weight, but it is not impossible.

I was reading an article the other day about set point theory (pro tip: almost every piece of fitness advice has a study that both supports and contradicts itself, so please be careful not to believe everything you read). The set point theory is that every person’s body has a predetermined fat mass or weight range. Regardless of whether you believe this theory or not, I want to tell you that your “set point” is not going to be obese. This is coming from someone who tries to tell themselves this on a daily basis when, in reality, I just don’t always feel like counting my calories.

Your healthy weight will not be unhealthy; your child’s healthy weight will not be unhealthy, and that is just non-negotiable.

I find that some of the worst situations when it comes to childhood obesity occur when the parents and siblings are thin, but one child gets singled out. Metabolism sometimes does play a role, especially in young children, because their bodies are still developing and some tend to hold on to the extra baby fat. So, why do I think this situation is worse? I find that some people just don’t get it. They get mad at their kid, or “punish” and shame them in comparison to the other kids just because they look different. If your kids are all eating the same things, then they are still all unhealthy, even if only one of them is showing it by your standards.

Stop putting your kids down and putting only them on strict diets because you don’t think that they fit your standards. This singling out is what causes these issues. If you want to make a positive change, then the whole family has to. Stop treating your kids like you’d treat a pet on a diet. They have feelings, emotions, insecurities, and struggles. It’s not as easy to just tell them to eat less. There are so many other components that play a role in why your kid is overeating or only choosing the wrong food.There is a line between enabling your kid to be unhealthy and shaming your kid to fit a mold.

Over the past 30 years, the frequency of obesity among children, as defined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), has tripled. Data collected by the Obesity Task Force (OBT) estimates that over 30% of American children are in the 85th percentile of the BMI. This rapid increase has led experts to question what can be done to prevent the issue from worsening.

Obesity poses a serious health risk, which becomes more severe as individuals age. While a child, teenager, or young adult may function generally with some extra fat, the risks become more dangerous and life-threatening over time. Health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and others can significantly impact a person’s life and shorten their lifespan, robbing them of opportunities.

As the body positivity movement loses momentum, more people are becoming health-conscious. Unfortunately, much of this trend is not backed by scientific education. Weight loss drugs, bariatric surgeries, and trending diets are becoming popular, but many seem to be focused on quick fixes and medication, neglecting the fact that obesity is entirely preventable.

A-Hyun Baik has done extensive research on the effects of food and how it affects our dopamine system. He is a Molecular Neurobiologist and in “Dopaminergic Control of the Feeding Circuit” he writes, “The dopamine system exerts a critical role in the control of feeding behavior not only by the reward-related circuit, but also by contributing to the homeostatic circuit of food intake, suggesting that dopamine plays an integrative role across the converging circuitry of control of food intake by linking energy state-associated signals to reward-related behaviors.”

For many of us, food actually alters our brain chemistry. It may be easier to just tell someone who is overweight to eat less, but much like with any addiction, it is truly a mental battle. This issue is just as present with kids. Why do I believe depression is a huge factor when it plays into childhood obesity?

 I believe that many kids are trying to fill a void. They are missing something. It may be love, friends, a family who cares, or maybe they just want to feel happy. They are scared to join a sport because they are “too big,” and kids are mean. They are scared of being the slowest runner or to be unathletic.

If you have a kid who is severely overeating and never leaves their room, I want to encourage you to look beyond the surface. What are they trying to gain? In some cases, it may just be a medical issue that you should get checked by a doctor.

Hormones and growing pains can also greatly affect a child’s weight. I will be the first person to tell my older clients that hormonal issues are such a small part of a weight issue and can be worked through easily with just a little extra effort, but I believe when it comes to childhood obesity, it may be a little different.

As you are growing from a young child to a pre-teen to a teen, you will experience a lot of different changes happening to your body, and every child will go through them differently. This explains why in families where many children are receiving similar if not the same type of nutrition, one child may look significantly larger. This does not mean that this child is the only one who needs to change eating and exercise habits; they may just be the only one who exhibits signs. I cannot express how important I think that it is to not single just one child out. The whole family needs to make a lifestyle change because in the end it has nothing to do with the weight or appearance. It has to do with the habits that the child is supposed to be building.

Healthline, I believe, has a great article that you should check out talking about many of the different hormones and their signs and effects on children. They write, “When hormonal balance is disrupted, the body’s signals for satiety (fullness) may be interrupted and lead to an increased appetite,” causing a child to not use calories at the average rate, which in turn causes the body to store them as fat. 

Hormones also regulate where fat accumulates in the body. Any excess fat stores produce yet another hormone called leptin, a hormone that normally reduces appetite. When a child’s leptin is diminished, they can have a very difficult time sensing hunger and fullness cues, causing them to eat way more than what they need. This can be especially harmful if the child is trying to fill a void, and they do this through the dopamine of food. They will get that pleasurable hit, but won’t have any signal in their brain telling them that they had enough.

“Major changes are necessary and without them, many kids have a hard time knowing when to stop eating. Parents have a tough time telling their kids no when it comes to food. In many cases, it stems from food insecurity when they were growing up, and they don’t want to stop their children from feeling loved. There are also a lot of picky eaters, and many parents are worried that if their child won’t eat the healthy food that they made, they will starve. This reality was presented to me in a documentary about a young child who was severely malnourished due to having pneumonia at a very young age. Both of his parents, being personal trainers, knew what the healthy option was, but they were terrified of allowing their kid to starve if they didn’t feed him the junk food that he would throw a tantrum over. This is also present with children on the autism spectrum. Many kids that suffer from autism or sensory issues struggle with different types of textures and colors. Parents don’t want to see their child in distress so they give them what they are crying for. Occupational Therapy (OT) is a great place to bring your child, especially at a young age. They can assist you in helping your child become more aware of different foods and give you tips on different ways to introduce them.”

It’s not easy, but as a guardian, it is important to do everything in your power to help your kid lead a healthy life. It will take time and maybe some setbacks, but know that if you are trying, you are a good parent/guardian.

You will not be perfect. Childhood obesity affects so many children for a plethora of reasons. The fact that you are taking steps to improve your kid’s life speaks volumes. Your family will thank you, but it may be hard at first. There are professionals out there who want to help you.

I was watching a part of a documentary talking about different parent support groups available to help kids play and experiment with their food. There are options out there; you just need to seek them out. Connecting with people, whether that be online or in person, having a community around you who is struggling with similar issues can be a huge support. You are not in this alone.

Whether you are trying to improve your health, your child’s, or the whole family’s, you are not in it alone.

So many families are battling with this very issue. And there is something to be said about it. The risks can include things like diabetes type 2, heart diseases, high cholesterol, depression (if the kid doesn’t already have it), asthma, loss of confidence, acting out, sleep disorders, and joint pain. All of these are risks that your child may face, and it will only get worse as they get older. This is why habits are so important!

 Teach your child what a calorie is without demonizing it. Don’t focus on weight loss, but on being healthy and choosing food that will make them feel better. Teach them what foods do, how the chemicals work together, what the point is of eating healthy, and learn it for yourself too.

Stop taking people’s word for it. Enjoy learning about nutrition and movement. Find activities that you love to do. Health should not be depressing, and fitness is not meant to be the worst thing. Find what they are passionate about and push them to go for it.

We all have insecurities, and for children who are overweight, especially as they enter their preteen years, hearing comments about their performance and body can lead to later issues. That’s why it is so important to not punish them with “healthy food” and make it a family effort. Enjoy the process of getting closer and getting out of your comfort zones. In the future, I will go into what I think we should do as a society, but it all starts in your own home. 

I believe in you and am so proud that you are choosing to take the steps to help push yourself and your kid to lead a healthy and happier life.

Keep up the good work!