Childhood obesity is a problem not only for children in Florida but one in three kids in the United States is overweight.
Recently, a group of researchers from Duke-National University of Singapore analyzed children’s food diaries, changes in Body Mass Index (BMI), weight, height and physical activity. Their findings show children who gained the most weight over the course of three years ate more butter and margarine, breaded fish and chicken, processed meat, French fries, milk, sweets and sugary beverages.
The authors singled out one food in particular, potato chips. “Potato chips are the most obesity-promoting foods for youths to consume.” Foods associated with staying at a healthy weight included, whole grains and high fiber breakfast cereals.
“Childhood obesity is threatening the future of our children,” said Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s largest independent healthcare insurance agency. “I think parents are sometimes in denial over the serious health threat this poses to our children. It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure our children are healthy, so we can provide them with a positive future.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) childhood obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Children can also suffer from poor self-esteem and depression.
So how do you know if your child is overweight? Not all children carrying extra weight are considered overweight or obese. The Mayo Clinic reports you cannot just look at a person and make this evaluation. Some children have larger than average body frames. They can carry different amount of body fat during various stages of development.
The Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) defines an overweight child as one who has a BMI at 85 percentile or above. A child with a 95 percentile BMI or higher is considered obese. A BMI is age and sex-specific for children and teens. “BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.”
Lifestyle choices are usually the cause for overweight children. It is important that parents and family members model healthy habits. The AAP recommends the following habits to guarantee your children are healthy.
- Focus on bedtime- children who sleep less than nine hours a night are more likely to be overweight.
- Get moving! Promote physical activity by going for walks, a bike ride, taking the stairs or getting involved in team sports.
- Make healthy foods more visible and accessible. Keep fruit and vegetables on the kitchen table or counter or at the front of the refrigerator.
- If you have high-calorie foods or sugary snacks for a celebration, buy them right before the event and get rid of them immediately afterward.
Having dependable health insurance can help promote a healthy lifestyle. GreatFlorida Insurance provides quality health insurance to keep preventative care doctor check-ups at a minimal cost for you and your entire family. Contact GreatFlorida Insurance today for a free quote.
