Graehm Gray: Childhood Obesity Definitions – Part Two

Okay, let’s review: what do we know so far? A. We know that obesity is an extra accumulation of fat. B. We know that the problem is coming from an imbalance-more energy in the form of calories (food) coming into the body-our children are eating more and not enough energy (calories) being burned off-not enough exercise. C. We  know that a pediatrician and researcher uses the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a way to identify weight problems in children-a way to measure your child’s weight against other children of the same age and sex and tell us whether he or she is at risk; D. We know that there are lots of consequences from being obese-heart disease, arthritis, sleep apnea and psychological problems and finally, E.  We know that President Obama said that 30 percent of our children are either overweight or obese .So what’s next?  Are we all sure we know whether our children are obese or just overweight? And what do we do to solve this problem? Class, let’s continue our journey-now Part two:

Overweight vs. Obese: (CDC) These are terms used to classify kids and adults and based on Body Mass Index (BMI-height and weight). BMI for kids and teens takes into account growth changes, differences in body fat between boys and girls. BMI calculator for Child and Teen. So go to your pediatrician’s (or primary healthy provider) office and get your child’s BMI measured. The BMI number will be plotted in a CDC BMI-for-age growth chart. You will find out whether he or she is in the A. Underweight category: less than the 5^th percentile, B. Healthy weight category: 5^th percentile to less than the 85^th percentile, C. Overweight Category: 85^th percentile to less than 95^th percentile and D. Obese: Equal to or greater than the 95^th percentile. This simple office visit will tell you all about where your child is relative to other children of the same age and sex. It will allow you to focus on how best you can help your child. Some school systems in the country, like in Arkansas, measure the BMI’s of their students and routinely send out a “BMI Report Card” to the parents. For most parents who actually look at the report, it is an eye opener. “How can that be,” we ask, “my child is not overweight and is definitely not obese.” But my friends, the harsh reality is that those of us that have heavier children underestimate our own child’s weight more often.

Calorie: is a unit of energy supplied by food. Proteins (soy, chicken, meat, fish), fats (butter, lard, olive oil, vegetable oil), and carbohydrates (sugars, glucose, starch, bread, pasta, rice) all have calories. It is the balance of calories that affects your body weight. To maintain your weight, you will eat about the same amount of calories as you are using/burning up-in your routine daily activities. To gain weight, you will eat more calories that your body is using, and to lose weight, you will either eat less calories than your body is using or you will burn up more calories in your daily activities (e.g. more exercise) with the same calorie intake.

How many calories equals one pound of fat: 3500. 

It all comes down to balance. When energy in the form of calories or food enters the body, through normal body mechanisms and exercise or play, that energy is burned off. What is not burned off remains and is turned into fat. To maintain a weight, the balance of energy coming in and energy used is achieved.  With more calories taken in than is used, there is a positive balance resulting in a weight gain. With less calories coming in than is used, there is a negative balance and a weight loss.

Portion Size: that amount of food that is consumed. Okay-now we have a problem. What exactly is a portion size? Is it the size of my fist? The size of the plate? We have grown accustomed to larger and larger portion sizes. In Europe, the portion sizes have been small. In Spain, with a meal called Tapas, the portions are small-called finger foods (appetizers). But here in the United States, we do things big! “Livin Large” is what we call it. And it’s true to the meaning. We are a large people and getting larger. Our portion sizes are huge. And we are exercising less. What does that mean-it means we are expanding our waist sizes at alarming rates.

How Many Calories Should My Child Eat? Look at the following table supplied by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) My Pyramid program: 

Portion sizes need to be controlled, but are we ready for that? Are we ready for the Portion Police or Exercise Police? Could happen! Stay tuned for part three.

Posted in: Editor's Page, Home