Childhood Obesity

This topic was not on the list of topics, but it is one that I feel is a very important topic in the society and culture that we live in.  Childhood obesity has been on the rise since the 1980s and in fact the rates of childhood obesity have tripled since then.  We live in a society that has become very sedentary with the increase in technology(video games, computers, ipods/cellphones).  This style of living is contributing to the increase in childhood obesity.  Children are living in a "fast food" generation and are used to eating foods that are high in fat and calories.    The increased amount of childhood obesity is leading to an increase in the health risks among children.  The biggest health risk that has seen an increase is Type 2 diabetes.  Other health issues related to obesity are heart disease, high blood pressure, and cholesterol(all of which have increased in the last 20 years).  The increased number of health problems has led to a higher rate of doctor and hospital visits for children.  This in turn increases the cost of health coverage.  In the past decade I think our society has started to see the problems that we have caused our children and has issued many campaigns to try and persuade children to eat better and move more.  Many professional athletes are endorsing a movement for better nutrition and activity such as the NFL's Play 60 campaign which encourages children to have 60 minutes of play a day.  I think that it is important for these types of role models to show children how important it is to be physically active.  I also think it is the parents' responsibility to help bring awareness to their children.  It is important to teach children from an early age the benefits of healthy living.  I also think that the way parents introduce this topic is important.  I don't think parents should discuss the topic as a body image problem(you're too fat) but rather as a health issue.  If parents tell their children that they need to lose weight because they are too fat, this could lead to issues in poor self-esteem.  Instead, I believe that it is first important to foster a child's self-esteem by letting them know that they are beautiful as the person that they are.  I then think a parent should discuss the health factors with their child about eating too much and exercising little.  I think that if the subject is broached from a heart/health perspective, then the child won't see it as a self-esteem issue.  Parents also need to remember that they are the greatest role model that a child has and they will want to do what they see their parents doing.  We need to teach our children through our own examples that it's ok to have all kinds of food as long as it is in moderation and teach them about making healthy choices.  As in all areas of development, children learn from a very young age, and the sooner we can teach them to take care of their bodies, the better it will be for their health.

When thinking about this topic and doing some research, the part of the world that I picked to give information about was Japan.  I tried to think of a country that I believed had very little problem with obesity.  When I searched childhood obesity in Japan, I was surprised to find out that it has been on the rise.  Japan has always been accustomed to eating a diet high in carbohydrates(rice) and vegetables.  In recent years it has moved away from this diet and has hit the "fast food" generation along with the rest of us.  Children are now eating fast food burgers, fried chicken, and instant noodles.  This has led the government to be concerned and they have issued a nutrition chart that would encourage better eating habits among children.  The government has also set aside money to deal with this issue and has created programs in health and sports.  They offer classes in sports, nutrition, and health.  These classes give lessons for children and parents on how to improve their eating and living habits.  Japan has always had a very high life expectancy rate and they are hoping that through their new efforts they will be able to keep it that way. 

After reading about one of the healthier nations in the world also having trouble with rising numbers of childhood obesity, I realized just how important this topic is.  This topic is especially meaningful to me because I was an obese child.  I was a very small toddler and young child but when I got to be in the 5th/6th grade, I started to gain weight.  I was never showed how to eat in moderation and I was allowed to eat whatever I wanted even if it was just sweets.  I grew up on a lot of processed, sugary foods and very few fruits or vegetables.  I am a very short person(a whopping 5ft 1) and so by the time I was in 8th grade and weighed close to 180lbs. I was picked on alot.  I was often referred to as "two-ton tilly"(by family members) and was also called names by my peers.  My family would often tell me I was fat and needed to lose weight(although they kept providing the food that was leading to the weight problem).  This led me to have a very poor self-esteem and I became very shy and withdrawn.  I decided in 10th grade to start to lose weight and I did it on my own.  I continually lost weight and by the time I graduated from high school I weighed 117lbs.  I have managed to keep my weight under control for the most part(except for pregnancies) now.  Due to the way that I was raised, I have had self-esteem and self-image problems for most of my life but then I realized that it shouldn't be about that, but about being healthy.  Once I had children, I realized that I wanted to be around for them and I wanted to raise them to be healthy and to love themselves no matter what they look like.  I will teach them that their heart is the most important part of their body that they should be concerned about and the part that they always need to take care of.  I will teach them the ways that I have learned to take care of it(through healthy eating and exercise).  I hope to teach them to love themselves enough to always take care of the one body they were given. 

I think that the way this information could impact my future work with children is that I will be able to pass on my knowledge of health and nutrition.  I would like to help with programs that are designed to keep children healthy and active.  I will also help my own children stay active and fit by keeping them involved in physical play.  We are given one body in this life and how long we live is greatly impacted by the way we take care of that body.  As a mother and a teacher my plan is to teach children to love themselves enough to take care the most important gift they were given - their life.