Sitting (Not So) Pretty
Sedentary lifestyles and poor food choices lead
to childhood obesity— and often disease.
by Robert Pastore, Ph.D.
PARENTGUIDE News January 2006
Each year, more American children are killed
by obesity than gun violence. Obesity is a
greater trigger for health problems and increased
health spending than smoking or drinking. Individuals
who are obese have 30 to 50 percent more chronic
medical problems than those who smoke or drink
heavily. The effects of obesity are similar
to 20 years of aging. Meanwhile, 40 percent
of U.S. adults get no leisure time physical
activity; only 14 percent meet the standard
of brisk walking for 30 minutes per day, five
times per week.
Current data suggests that 20 percent of U.S.
children are overweight. Obesity continues to
increase in children and adolescents, and annual
obesity-related hospital costs in 6–17
year olds have reached $127 million per year.
With cells dividing rapidly, childhood years
are critical for proper nutrition. Also during
childhood, diseases related to nutrition can
be mapped. When overweight kids continue to
conduct overweight lifestyles, diseases become
clear and present dangers.
Overweight children and adolescents are now
being diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance
and Type II diabetes, and they show early signs
of the insulin resistance syndrome and cardiovascular
risk. Several risk factors have been identified
as contributors to the development of Type II
diabetes and cardiovascular risk in youth. These
factors include increased body fat and abdominal
fat, insulin resistance, ethnicity (with greater
risk in African American, Hispanic and Native
American children), and onset of puberty.
Overweight and obese people are at an increased
risk for diabetes; heart disease; hypertension;
musculoskeletal conditions; breast, endometrial,
prostate and colon cancers; stroke; depression
and poor female reproductive health, among other
conditions. Obesity is associated with 39 million
lost work days, 239 million restricted-activity
days, 90 million bed days and 63 million physician
visits.
January, a new year, a new beginning, is the
perfect time to reverse this trend. The power
to control this epidemic of obesity rests in
the hands of all people. Parents need to understand
that they have the real power, such as by using
food as preventive medicine. Parents have access
to purchasing and providing nutritional foods
that keep our children happy and healthy. Proper
nutrition not only prevents diseases, but improves
reading, math and language skills.
We, as a nation, have the power to change the
statistics with what we put into our mouths.
Poor food choices are the reason for the majority
of health concerns and diseases in the human
population. We need to focus on healthier eating.
A whole foods diet is the easiest way to prevent
obesity and numerous illnesses.
As a nation, we make poor food choices. We are
infatuated with fast food. We take great care
planning vacations, choosing which automobile
to purchase or lease, but pay little attention
to what we put in our mouths to nourish our
bodies.
Aside from this dietary problem, a clear-cut
reason for the growing epidemic of childhood
obesity is a sedentary lifestyle. Research shows
that a sedentary lifestyle starts in toddlers.
Research suggests even 3 year olds aren’t
getting enough exercise, which raises concerns
over their weight, future disease risk, psychological
well-being, behavior and learning ability.
In a study published in the Lancet, scientists
from the University of Glasgow in Scotland recruited
78 children. Each 3 year old wore an “accelerometer,”
a matchbox-sized monitor clipped to the waistband,
for a week. Scientists found that the average
3 year old is physically active for just 20
minutes a day, well short of the recommended
hour a day for that age. The toddlers were burning
about 1,300 calories a day— less than
the 1,500 calories recommended.
While the problem is that of an imbalance of
calories eaten and burned up, experts believe
the main reason for childhood obesity is that
children are not getting enough exercise. “There
are really only two possibilities— reduced
activity or increased intake,” reports
the study’s leader, John Reilly, a physiologist
at the University of Glasgow. “None of
the dietary assessment data indicate that children
are eating more. Adolescents may be eating more
but young children are eating less.”
Reilly adds: “A 3 year old, 25 years ago,
was eating 25 percent more than a 3 year old
today. But physical activity levels have dropped
quite dramatically over the last 15 or 20 years.”
All-day television, recorded videos and endless
hours on the Internet are major culprits for
the increased rate of childhood obesity. Outside
the home, children are also much less active
than they used to be. More active children tend
to be better behaved, and scientists suspect
that more active children learn more effectively,
perhaps because physical activity is a stimulus
to brain development.
Another culprit is the addictive behavior some
people exhibit in terms of playing video games.
A recent shocking headline read, “Man
dies after 50 hours of computer games.”
A 28-year-old man in South Korea left his seat
in an Internet cafe only to go to the bathroom
and take brief naps. Doctors said he died of
exhaustion and suffered a heart attack.
I’m not saying that video games lead to
death by heart attack. The point I’m trying
to get across is that anything done in excess
can have a negative impact. We are a sedentary
nation, beginning with when we are toddlers.
Adding hours upon hours of video game playing
to a child’s daily schedule is only increasing
the risk of obesity caused by lack of physical
activity. Instead of playing baseball on a video
game, kids need to get outside and actually
play baseball!
A strong foundation is required when building
a home. Our bodies need to follow the same premise.
A diet comprised of whole grains, legumes, fresh
fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products,
eggs and lean protein from poultry, lean beef
and fish builds a healthy body.
Working together as a family is the true road
to success! Parents need to be proactive and
adopt a healthy lifestyle if they want to influence
healthier choices in their children. Once the
family as a whole has an understanding of exercise
and nutrition, the kids will likely adopt a
healthy lifestyle that will carry into adulthood.
Families also need to understand that there
is no quick fix. I teach families that a healthy
lifestyle is a journey of personal transformation.
Family members will be forever changed for the
better when they meet their goals. They will
be each other’s support system, and will
grow healthier and stronger as a family unit.
Dr. Robert Pastore is a clinical nutritionist
in private practice in New York City and the
president of Pastore Formulations. To learn
more about Dr. Pastore, log on to www.pastoreformulations.com.
