Childhood obesity rates have skyrocketed over the past 40 years. Between the late 1970’s and 2008, obesity rates doubled in preschoolers and more than tripled in 6-11 year olds and adolescents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17% of American children are currently obese—not surprising when you consider that vegetables consist of less than 2% of children’s diets.1 Although children do get less exercise than in past generations, diet is the biggest contributor to childhood obesity.2
Childhood Obesity and Disease
When children carry excess weight, it threatens their future health. Approximately 3,600 American children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year, and are in danger of future complications from the disease.3 Seventy percent of obese children have at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor and 39% have two or more risk factors.4 A study that followed American children for 24 years found that childhood obesity was the greatest risk factor for a premature death due to chronic disease.5 Plus, childhood diets have a strong influence on adult cancers—children’s growing bodies are formed by the foods that they eat.6-7
Instill Healthy Eating Habits Early On
Children in our society become addicted to junk food at a young age, and will repeatedly demand these foods. It takes a great deal of effort to derail these bad habits once they are established. Parents are the ones primarily responsible for what their children are eating. Our goal should be to instill healthy habits in our children early on so that they grow up at a healthy weight, appreciate healthy food and exercise, and hold on to those habits as adults. Here are some tips:
Keep only healthy foods in the house. Every person in the household should have the same food choices available
Discuss food choices and make collective dietary goals as a family
Eat dinner together as a family
Involve children with food preparation
Once a week, discuss a health topic as a family
Don’t reward good behavior with junk food
Plan fun family activities that involve physical activity and/or age-appropriate exercise
Pack healthy lunches for your children that include fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and raw vegetables
Offer and feed a wholesome diversity of natural foods so that each child has as much freedom as possible to eat what healthy food they prefer
Don't attempt to manage your children's caloric intake. They can do that on their own
When parents live a healthful lifestyle, their children follow. More information on feeding children healthfully can be found in my book Disease Proof Your Child.
References
Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, et al: Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents, 2007-2008.JAMA 2010, 303:242-249.
Eagle TF, Gurm R, Goldberg CS, et al: Health status and behavior among middle-school children in a midwest community: what are the underpinnings of childhood obesity?Am Heart J 2010, 160:1185-1189.
Overview of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents. From the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). 2011.
Freedman DS, Mei Z, Srinivasan SR, et al: Cardiovascular risk factors and excess adiposity among overweight children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study.J Pediatr 2007, 150:12-17 e12.
Franks PW, Hanson RL, Knowler WC, et al: Childhood obesity, other cardiovascular risk factors, and premature death.N Engl J Med 2010, 362:485-493.
Maynard M, Gunnell D, Emmett P, et al: Fruit, vegetables, and antioxidants in childhood and risk of adult cancer: the Boyd Orr cohort.J Epidemiol Community Health 2003, 57:218-225.
Frazier AL, Li L, Cho E, et al: Adolescent diet and risk of breast cancer.Cancer Causes Control 2004, 15:73-82.
Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a board-certified family physician, seven-time New York Times bestselling author and internationally recognized expert on nutrition and natural healing, who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. Dr. Fuhrman coined the term “Nutritarian” to describe his longevity-promoting, nutrient dense, plant-rich eating style.
For over 30 years, Dr. Fuhrman has shown that it is possible to achieve sustainable weight loss and reverse heart disease, diabetes and many other illnesses using smart nutrition. In his medical practice, and through his books and PBS television specials, he continues to bring this life-saving message to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
Feeding Your Children Right
January 16, 2018 by Joel Fuhrman, MD
Childhood obesity rates have skyrocketed over the past 40 years. Between the late 1970’s and 2008, obesity rates doubled in preschoolers and more than tripled in 6-11 year olds and adolescents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17% of American children are currently obese—not surprising when you consider that vegetables consist of less than 2% of children’s diets.1 Although children do get less exercise than in past generations, diet is the biggest contributor to childhood obesity.2
Childhood Obesity and Disease
When children carry excess weight, it threatens their future health. Approximately 3,600 American children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year, and are in danger of future complications from the disease.3 Seventy percent of obese children have at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor and 39% have two or more risk factors.4 A study that followed American children for 24 years found that childhood obesity was the greatest risk factor for a premature death due to chronic disease.5 Plus, childhood diets have a strong influence on adult cancers—children’s growing bodies are formed by the foods that they eat.6-7
Instill Healthy Eating Habits Early On
Children in our society become addicted to junk food at a young age, and will repeatedly demand these foods. It takes a great deal of effort to derail these bad habits once they are established. Parents are the ones primarily responsible for what their children are eating. Our goal should be to instill healthy habits in our children early on so that they grow up at a healthy weight, appreciate healthy food and exercise, and hold on to those habits as adults. Here are some tips:
When parents live a healthful lifestyle, their children follow. More information on feeding children healthfully can be found in my book Disease Proof Your Child.
Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a board-certified family physician, seven-time New York Times bestselling author and internationally recognized expert on nutrition and natural healing, who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. Dr. Fuhrman coined the term “Nutritarian” to describe his longevity-promoting, nutrient dense, plant-rich eating style.
For over 30 years, Dr. Fuhrman has shown that it is possible to achieve sustainable weight loss and reverse heart disease, diabetes and many other illnesses using smart nutrition. In his medical practice, and through his books and PBS television specials, he continues to bring this life-saving message to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.